The idea of "damaged romanticism" hinges on the possibility that initial conditions of loss and disappointment can be tempered with defiant optimism. Instead of descending into disillusionment, hopelessness or despair, what begins as morbidity can be transformed into creative reconstruction.

This fall, the concept is being explored by the University of Houston's Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts through "Damaged Romanticism in Music," a distinctive series of concerts, performances, readings and discussions. The series is co-presented with Blaffer Gallery and is inspired by the exhibition "Damaged Romanticism," on view at Blaffer Sept. 13 - Nov. 15. In September, the Mitchell Center kicks off the music series with the UH Moores School of Music and a three-day festival celebrating the 70th birth-year of Grammy Award-winning composer Joan Tower, with pianist and chamber musician Melvin Chen. The series continues throughout October and November with dynamic events that blend music, conversation and poetry including a multi-media performance and concert presented in collaboration with Da Camera of Houston.

"Damaged Romanticism in Music" features additional notable talents such as poet and former UH faculty member Adam Zagajewski, musician and Da Camera artistic director Sarah Rothenberg, The Foundation for Modern Music, the Moores School of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the AURA Contemporary Ensemble.

All "Damaged Romanticism in Music" events are listed below, and additional details can be found at www.mitchellcenterforarts.org. To learn more about the Blaffer Gallery exhibition, visit www.class.uh.edu/blaffer/exhibit_damaged_romanticism.html.

Damaged Romanticism: Joan Tower Music Festival
Three evenings of music by Grammy Award-winning guest composer Joan Tower.

7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25
Dudley Recital Hall in UH's Fine Arts Building, Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard.
Recital - Piano soloist and chamber musician Melvin Chen perform a selection of Joan Tower's solo piano works, including selections from Ligeti's "Etudes," "Book I," and the Brahms "Piano Sonata No.3" For tickets and information, call the Moores School of Music at 713-743-3313.

7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26
Moores Opera House at UH, Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard.
Concert - Tower's music performed by the AURA Contemporary Ensemble
For tickets and information, call the Moores School of Music at 713-743-3313.

7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27
Moores Opera House at UH, Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard.
Concert - The Moores School of Music Symphony Orchestra will perform three of Joan Tower's works: Second Piano Concerto, with Melvin Chen; Percussion Concerto, with Blake Wilkins; and Made in America, as well as Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5." For tickets and information, call the Moores School of Music at 713-743-3313.

"Chopin in Paris: Epigraph for a Condemned Book"

8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18 Roy and Lillie Cullen Theater at the Wortham Theater Center, 500 Texas St.
Presented in collaboration with Da Camera of Houston.
A unique tapestry of music by Chopin, text by Baudelaire and images by Delacroix reveals some of the creative works that inspired "Damaged Romanticism." Conceived, directed and performed by Mitchell Center artist-in-residence and Da Camera artistic director Sarah Rothenberg.

7 p.m.: Pre-concert conversation with Sarah Rothenberg and poet Richard Howard.

For tickets and Information, call Da Camera at 713-524-5050.

"Damaged Romanticism" Concert

8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8
Moores Opera House at UH, Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard.
Presented in collaboration with Da Camera of Houston.
A concert featuring a roster of international artists performing works by Karim Al-Zand, Stephen Hartke, Wolfgang Rihm, Alfred Schnittke and Franz Schubert juxtaposed with projected images from Blaffer Gallery's "Damaged Romanticism" exhibition.

7 p.m.: Pre-concert conversation with Sarah Rothenberg and Terrie Sultan, director of the Parrish Art Museum and co-curator of "Damaged Romanticism."

Post-Concert Reception and Exhibition Viewing at Blaffer Gallery.

For tickets and information, call Da Camera 713-524-5050.

Foundation for Modern Music Concert

6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12
Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of UH, Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard.
The works of composers Henryk Górecki Schnittke and Osvaldo Golijov are performed in an intimate gallery setting.
Free Admission.
For reservations and information, call Blaffer Gallery, 713-743-9521.

"Poetry and Music: A Conversation"

7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21
The Rothko Chapel, 1409 Sul Ross St.
Renowned poet and former UH faculty member Adam Zagajewski joins forces with Sarah Rothenberg for an evening of readings, performances and conversations in conjunction with the exhibition.
Free Admission.
For reservations and information, call the Mitchell Center Hotline at 713-743-5548.

About the Mitchell Center
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration in the performing, visual and literary arts. From our base at the University of Houston, we offer public events, residencies and courses that fuse artistic disciplines, ignite dialogue and present new ways of experiencing the arts in contemporary life. The Mitchell Center forms an alliance among five units at the University of Houston: The School of Art; Creative Writing Program; Moores School of Music; School of Theatre and Dance; and Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of the University of Houston. For more information about the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston, visit www.mitchellcenterforarts.org.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.