Harry Potter returns to DeVos with ‘Half-Blood Prince’ and live music, Feb. 21

The Grand Rapids Symphony performs the music of “Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince” Feb. 21 and 22 as the film plays on a giant screen. (Supplied)

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Grand Rapids Symphony

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to DeVos Performance Hall with “Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince” in Concert, the sixth film in the Harry Potter series. On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, Associate Conductor John Varineau conducts the Grand Rapids Symphony in performing Nicholas Hooper’s incredible score live from “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”™ while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.

In 2016, CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, a global concert tour celebrating the Harry Potter films. Since the world premiere of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in Concert in June 2016, more than 2.5 million fans have enjoyed this magical experience from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, which is scheduled to include over 1,500 performances across more than 48 countries worldwide through 2020.

“When the Grand Rapids Symphony brought the Harry Potter Film Concert Series to town four years ago, we sold out three performances of ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ in Concert,” said Mary Tuuk, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Symphony. “Afterwards, the Symphony’s Facebook page lit up with comments from fans who said it was ‘absolutely phenomenal.’ We’re thrilled to be able to bring the Harry Potter Film Concert Series back to DeVos Performance Hall for the sixth time along with our fabulous Grand Rapids Symphony.”

As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both the Muggle and Wizarding Worldsä, Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing Harry for the battle fast approaching. Even as the showdown looms, romance blossoms for Harry, Ron, Hermione and their classmates. Love is in the air, but danger lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Any for a game of quidditch? “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” performed by the Grand Rapids Symphony Feb. 21 and 22. (Supplied)

Nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award, Nicholas Hooper returns to the Harry Potter series with this magical score that debuted at number twenty-nine on the Billboard 200 chart, thus making it the highest-charting soundtrack among all the six movie soundtracks released. Considered “emotionally churning” by Variety, Hooper’s score features soaring and unique motifs that could only represent the grandeur and scope of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.

Justin Freer, President of CineConcerts and Producer of The Harry Potter Film Concert Series explains, “The Harry Potter film series is a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon that continues to delight millions of fans around the world. It is with great pleasure that we bring fans for the first time ever an opportunity to experience the award-winning music scores played live by a symphony orchestra, all while the beloved film is simultaneously projected onto the big screen. This is truly an unforgettable event.”

Brady Beaubien of CineConcerts and Concert Producer for The Harry Potter Film Concert Series added, “Harry Potter is synonymous with excitement around the world and we hope that by performing this incredible music with the full movie, audiences will enjoy returning to the Wizarding World.”

Tickets are now on sale via GRSymphony.org and 616-454-9451 ext. 4 for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” in Concert with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

For more information on the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, please visit www.harrypotterinconcert.com.