‘Hamilton!’ star to perform with Grand Rapids Symphony in upcoming 2020-21 season

Leslie Odom Jr as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton!” (Pete Souza/White House Photographer)

Leslie Odom Jr., the actor who originated the role of Aaron Burr in the Grammy Award-winning musical “Hamilton!” is just one of the highlights of the Grand Rapids Symphony upcoming 2020-21 season with the Classical Season being unveiled this week.

The Classical Season features a mix of popular music, world-class soloists, new music, new concert series and special events beginning in September 2020.

Highlights under Music Director Marcelo Lehninger includes performances of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the most famous four notes in all of music, and Mozart’s Requiem, part of the climactic scenes of the 1984 film “Amadeus.” Popular music includes Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” the spooky music from Disney’s “Fantasia,” and Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” the opening music used in Stanley Kuberick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Important soloists include superstar violinist (and fashionista) Sarah Chang, legendary Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire, and flamboyant organist Cameron Carpenter, the “Bad Boy of the Organ,” who designed and travels with his own custom instrument.

Flamboyant organist Cameron Carpenter, the “Bad Boy of the Organ,” performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 2020-21 Classical Series. (Supplied)

Concert goers will experience a Sitar Concerto performed by a student of the great Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar, and the first major solo work for saxophone and orchestra that DeVos Hall has seen in 38 years.

A new series, “The Pianists,” will bring two artists who once were Gilmore Young Artists of the Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo and who now have flourishing careers.

New music includes the debut of “Immortal Beloved” by Grand Rapids’ own Alexander Miller, inspired by Beethoven’s written testament bidding farewell to the love of his life. The GRS also will premiere a new Double Concerto for Vibraphone and Marimba, one of five pieces of music that will feature soloists drawn from the ranks of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s accomplished musicians.

Season tickets went on sale Feb. 12. Season ticket holders will have the first chance to purchase tickets for the special event featuring Odom. Single tickets will be available at a later date. The 2020-21 Pops Series will be announced in March. The 2020 D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops Series was announced in January.