Houston’s ROCO with conductor Mei-Ann Chen. Photo by Violeta Alvarez.
In last Monday’s (8/18) Houston Press, Sam Byrd writes, “ROCO recently announced its 21st season, driven by artistic collaborations, filled with world premieres and punctuated by performances in unique venues. Themed ‘Season of the Senses,’ the upcoming year will present evocative new works and immersive soundscapes by the great composers of present day paired with reimagined classics…. This year’s lineup includes 14 commissioned world premieres and rescores, a composer-in-residence and another chapter in the ROCO’s ongoing story of showcasing the most fun an audience can have with classical music. ROCO will have premiered 162 commissioned works by living composers by the end of this season, which is an accomplishment that [Founder and Artistic Director Alecia Lawyer] feels is central to the organization’s raison d’être…. Composer-in-residence Kevin Lau … will kick off the first concert with the world premiere of his clarinet concerto that details the arc of birth, life and death. Lau will also write an epic piece for the full orchestra inspired by C.S. Lewis’ fantasy novel series, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia.’… ROCO … is now enabling audiences anywhere, in person or livestreaming, to view the sheet music to scores and parts in the ROCO Mobile App during concerts.”
