Da Camera

I’m one of those people who thought Da Camera had to do with photography. As in, «use da camera to take da photo». But alas, as described by Dolph W., it’s actually from an Italian phrase meaning chamber music. Now you know.
I attended «A Little Day Music», a free monthly concert put on by Da Camera in the Wortham Theatre lobby. You are invited to bring your lunch and listen for an hour to a jazz concert. Pretty sweet break from work.
I dragged a coworker out and luckily we found a table near the front even though we might have been the last ones to arrive. There are small tables placed around the stage in a U shape, and couches in front of the tables, and then chairs. Several students were sitting on the carpet in front of the small stage.
We may have been the only attendees between the ages of 15 and 70 (lots of kids and lots of older people), but we loved it. They were presenting Ben Allison and his band (at the time, just the drummer and violinist).
The acoustics in the lobby are surprisingly reverberant. The artists were inventive and the music was overall entertaining and excellent. The staff was very sweet and there was a raffle during the 5 minute intermission. An old lady behind us exclaimed, «What? That’s all? Only 2 prizes when there are so many people?» Uh, it’s a free concert, lady. I didn’t see you pay for tickets. The fact that they even give out a red tote bag for free is beyond generous. Just saying.
I’d definitely recommend this «Beyond the concert hall» event.

If Houston’s classical music scene were a Greek temple, it would be structurally supported by three major pillars of excellence and importance. Two of them are familiar to most – the Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Symphony. The third may come as surprise to all but the most culturally savvy – Da Camera. «Da Camera» ain’t da photographer’s best friend. Instead, the expression is derived from the Italian phrase «musica da camera» which is translated as «chamber music». In its role of bringing high-​caliber performances of chamber music to Houston that encompass both classical music and jazz, Da Camera is immensely important to the cultural life of this city.
Their large and diverse subscription series consists of between 15 to 20 concerts each season. Their principal venue is the Wortham’s Cullen Theater, but Da Camera performances can also be found at the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall, the Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel. They’ve been a fixture on the Houston scene since 1987 and have been under the artistic directorship of pianist Sarah Rothenberg since 1994. Rothenberg has demonstrated that bold (and often risky) thematic programing works well in Houston and Da Camera has commissioned many works and performed pieces that would have frightened the bejeebies out of most performing arts groups. Combining local musicians with performers from around the world has ensured the highest caliber talent and musicianship is showcased.
As a local choral musician, I have the privilege to occasionally perform in Da Camera productions. Last season, I sang in a piece by Stravinsky entitled «Les Noces». It is scored for a vocal quartet, chorus, three pianos and (lots of) percussion, depicts a rustic village wedding and is sung in Russian. Incredibly difficult, it requires virtuosic efforts by all involved but is a tour de force when performed well. The forces that Da Camera assembled for this performance were certainly up to the task. This concert also included a performance of George Antheil’s Ballet Mécanique scored for four pianos, four xylophones, two electric bells, airplane propellers, timpani, glockenspiel, and a host of other percussion instruments. This piece was first performed in 1926 and earned Antheil the reputation of the «bad boy of music.» It’s a kick-​ass piece that puts to shame any of today’s rhythmic efforts in the pop, hip-​hop and rap genres that pander to ringtone vendors. The performance in Cullen Theater was electric.
Da Camera doesn’t always program the avant garde. This season includes plenty of Bach, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Mozart and conventional jazz to appeal to more moderate tastes.
What makes Da Camera particularly five-​star worthy is their community outreach and education programs. These include «A Little Day Music» (free lunchtime concerts at the Wortham Center), pre-​concert talks, «Stop, Look and Listen» (free family concerts at the Menil Collection) and in-​school jazz performances.
They receive my highest endorsement.

Another great Houston arts organization, Da Camera hosts stimulating events throughout its season. I guarantee that one of them won’t be to your liking each year, but they try to hit a pretty broad cross-​section. Chamber music, performances related to Menil exhibits, performance/​lecture combos, really interesting stuff. Most performances are downtown in the traditional Theater District haunts.