Musica Tra Amici

05/11/2026

The brilliant new harpist of the Houston Symphony, Allegra Lilly made her Musica Tra Amici debut with a Mother’s Day concert of beautiful French chamber music involving the Harp, with Judy Dines, flute, Boson Mo, violin, Tong Yan, violin, Christopher French, cello, and Joan DerHovsepian, viola,

05/08/2026

Dear Friends,

This Mother’s Day evening we invite you to join us for a unique and memorable Musica Tra Amici experience. On Sunday, May 10th, 7pm, at the MATCH gallery, the Houston Symphony’s spectacular new principal harpist, Allegra Lilly, curates a program of beautiful French chamber music featuring the harp. (Ticketing link in comments. Livestream/video on demand available for two weeks following the concert)

Violinists Boson Mo and Tong Yan, violist Joan DerHovsepian, cellist Christopher French and flutist Judy Dines join Allegra for a program of French romantic music that includes Debussy’s magical Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, Saint-Saëns brilliant Fantasie for Violin and Harp, Ibert’s witty Entre’act, Tailleffere’s Sonata for Harp and Caplet’s virtuosic tour de force, Conte Fantastique.

At Musica Tra Amici we delight in sharing unique and beautiful programs of the music we love played by world class musicians. There is nothing in the world quite like the sound of the harp played at the highest level, and we hope you will be able to join us for this special Mother's Day experience!

04/03/2026

03/18/2026

At the dawn of the 20th century, in the last years before the world exploded into war and music turned towards atonality, romanticism in music reached its most intensely expressive point. The geographical and musical center of this outpouring of expressionism was fin de siècle Vienna, perhaps best exemplified by Gustav Mahler. Mahler left only a single piece of chamber music, one movement of a piano quartet. Though written while he was still a teenager, it demonstrates his intrinsic gift for creating melody and character in music. Erich Wolfgang Korngold represents the apotheosis of Viennese romanticism and is finally gaining belated recognition as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Musica Tra Amici’s survey of Korngold's chamber music continues with his beautiful and rarely heard Suite for two violins, cello and piano left hand. Commissioned by the pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I (and also commissioned Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand) this captivating work for an unusual combination of instruments is in turns, beautiful, exciting and witty. Longtime Metropolitan Opera concertmaster and new Rice professor David Chan makes his Musica Tra Amici Debut, joined by violinist Boson Mo, violist James Dunham, cellist Brinton Averil Smith, and Steinway Concert Artist pianist Evelyn Chen. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience two rarely heard chamber music gems from Mahler and Korngold in an intimate setting, followed by our typical Musica Tra Amici reception, where the audience and musicians have the opportunity to mingle and discuss the music over wine and Hors d’oeuvres. In person and livestream tickets available at https://matchouston.org/events/2026/alt-wien

03/09/2026

5 Shades of La Vie en Rose

02/04/2026

Sometimes even Bad Boys need a little help from their friends.

01/17/2026

https://matchouston.org/events/2026/houston-symphony%E2%80%99s-bad-boys-cello-part-deux

The Houston Symphony’s Bad Boys of Cello -one of the best cello sections in the world- return to encore their last sold out appearance with an all new program of beautiful cello ensemble music and (somewhat) new jokes!

01/17/2026

WE'RE BACK!!! The Houston Symphony's cello section became known as the 'Bad Boys of Cello' in the 1990's, when then principal Shirley Trepel, exasperated at their antics in rehearsal, turned around, wagging her finger, and said "You are Bad Boys!" (although three of the original "Bad Boys" were women!) This scolding inspired them to come together as the "Bad Boys of Cello" to give a series benefit concerts that combined beautiful cello ensemble music with irreverent humor. Now a new generation of incredible cellists, joined by the remaining original bad boys, has revived the mantle and the motto "Nothing to prove, Nothing to lose!"

Their last appearance at the MATCH sold out quickly and generated viral videos that garnered over 8 million views! If you've heard them in Jones Hall, you know this is one of the best cello sections in the world, and for one evening you can have the chance to join us as we laugh together and make beautiful cello music with an all new program and (hopefully!) new jokes!

Tickets are already selling fast, so don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unique concert experience, either in person at the MATCH, or via livestream (viewable live and then for two weeks after the concert) Tickets available at: https://matchouston.org/events/2026/houston-symphony%E2%80%99s-bad-boys-cello-part-deux

12/06/2025

We're looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at 7pm at the MATCH - Gallery to introduce our new artistic co-director Boson Mo in a program of dazzling and beautiful music inspired by friendships between composers and violinists. We are close to sold out, but we will release any last minute cancellations, so there should still be a few last minute tickets available. See you soon!