Just a brief note to let you know that the Museum of Fine Arts cordially invites you to a special concert celebrating the final day of the spectacular Habsburg exhibition: The Habsburgs: Dangerous Liaisons, Fate, and Demise—A Story Told through the Music of Bohemian Composers, with classical pianist Fabio Banegas Jiříček today, Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the MFAH Law Building, lower level, 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005.
As to our visit to the museum last Thursday, we cannot thank Dr. Helga Aurisch enough for her humorous, erudite introduction to the Habsburg exhibit: Habsburg Splendor: Masterpieces from Vienna’s Imperial Collections. The items are exquisite and breath-taking in their beauty and power. Critics said, this “show is astonishing: armor, tapestries, antiquities, ceremonial costumes, portraits and . . . some of the most glorious Old Master paintings in the history of art.” Seldom, if ever, has there been such a collection of works of master artists and artisans from the centuries of the Habsburgs’ reign outside of Austria. If you missed it, do go today, the last day; opening hours today are 12:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The pianist’s multimedia performance addresses the role of music through different historical times of Austria’s Habsburg Dynasty. The program includes repertoire by Bohemian composers, combined with musical interpretations, visual illustrations, and witty commentary. The kingdom of Bohemia, known today as the Czech Republic, was incorporated into the Habsburg monarchy in 1558 and became an economic and musical powerhouse—within the boundaries controlled by the Habsburgs, and beyond.
Czech Argentine pianist Fabio Banegas Jiříček has performed solo recitals in Argentina, Europe, and the United States, and he has been a soloist with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra, among others. He is the artist-in-residence for the music section of UCLA’s Faculty Women’s Club, where he showcases Czech and Argentine composers in their respective cultural contexts. His background also includes experience in journalism, television, film, and art collecting.
Tickets are $5 for MFAH Members, $10 for Nonmembers, and a general admission to the museum is not needed. Get your tickets here: https://ecommerce.mfah.org/ItemShow-Common.aspx?Grp=y13wvxhJyOE=&Name=lc3SkH1wVMgZRS00PxlErg==&d=2015-09-13
Whatever you do today, enjoy your first cool Sunday!