Houston Symphony Orchestra - Video Enhancement of Concerts

The Premise:

Since the introduction of television 50 years ago, Americans have been increasingly trained to use both their eyes and their ears to learn and to be entertained. This is especially true for baby boomers and younger audiences who need to be developed for future symphony audiences. Classical music is not taught and encouraged in many schools, as it was several decades ago. The HSO goal is to encourage appreciation of classical music and attendance in Jones Hall. Also, Houston is experiencing an explosion of entertainment options - from movies to concerts, internet and video games, and other diverse live cultural entertainment available throughout the city - which have had a profound impact on traditional arts organizations. Houston's video system is designed to enhance the concert experience, providing views that are normally inaccessible to those in the hall.

How it works:

In the spring of 2003, the Houston Symphony experimented by introducing large video screens on the left and right sides of the Jones Hall stage to enhance the visual experience of three performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Following extensive research and positive audience response, and thanks to a generous grant from the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, in the spring of 2004 the Symphony purchased and installed a state of the art video screen system for Jones Hall. To view the Houston Symphony's Introduction to Video System video presentation, please click here. The installation of the permanent screens and cameras enhances the experience of the audience by showing close-up, real-time images of the conductors and musicians as they perform on stage. The video screens are used in all education, family and pops concerts and at selected classical subscription series and specials.

Early Results:

• Artistic quality has remained extraordinarily strong despite some reservations from some donors and patrons who felt the video would detract from the quality of the live concert experience.
• On the contrary, long-time and new patrons have praised the thoughtful integration of the video screens in all of the Symphony's concerts.
• Text and special art is displayed on the screens to accompany selected works that require translation or visual enhancements.
• Teachers, students, administrators and parents alike have praised the video screens and applauded the Symphony's efforts to add a visual component to the concert experience.
• The video screens have become an integral part of every education, family, pops concerts and at selected classical subscription series and specials, and have energized the live concert experience for concert goers of all ages.
• More than 340,000 individuals have enjoyed the video screens at classical, pops, specials and education concerts including the Discoverer, Lollipop and Time Warner Family Concerts where concert goers can see the conductors and musicians up-close in real-time images.
• The Symphony's education concerts are designed to compliment the state-approved curricula for elementary through high school students, utilizing innovative, artistic programming and now the new technology available to the Symphony.

For further info contact:
713-224-4240
www.houstonamericanorchestras.org