By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
The Grand Rapids Symphony unveiled its 2018-19 season with classical blockbusters, eminent soloists, pop/rock music favorites, great films and much more.
The Classical Series led by Music Director Marcelo Lehninger welcomes world-renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and rising star violinist Karen Gomyo to DeVos Hall for a season of music including Beethoven’s stirring Symphony No. 7, Rimsky-Korsakov’s sultry Scheherazade, Schubert’s beautiful “Unfinished” Symphony No. 8, and Rachmaninoff’s mighty Piano Concerto No. 2.
Three-time Grammy Award winner Michelle DeYoung, a mezzo-soprano who was born in Grand Rapids and attended Calvin College, returns to DeVos Hall for the first time in 12 seasons. Also meet Marcelo’s mother, Brazilian pianist Sonia Goulart, who’s enjoyed an international career as a concert artist. will be performing with the Grand Rapids Symphony.
The Pops Series under Principal Pops Conductor Bob Bernhardt features jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli playing the music of Paul McCartney; trumpeter Byron Stripling with ragtime, jazz and blues; and singer and pianist Tony DeSare with great songs of Frank Sinatra.
Enjoy many nights at the movies with live music from the Grand Rapids Pop accompanying Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Johnny Depp in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” and Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone.”
Cirque de la Symphonie will return for Christmas for the 10th annual Cirque de Noel. Local soloists will include violinist and concertmaster James Crawford and principal oboist Ellen Sherman.
For more on the 2018-2019 season, click here.
Season tickets are on sale now with select concerts also on sale to subscribers. Subscriptions are available at a discount of up to 50 percent off select series and seats for new package orders. Current subscribers have until February 28 to renew their subscriptions. Single tickets will be available beginning July 31.
Tickets are available at the GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm, at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616-454-9451, ext. 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $4 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)
