The +Grand Rapids Symphony has five recordings led by David Lockington; one of the most highly praised was the orchestra’s CD of Adolphus Hailstork’s Second and Third Symphonies. It’s only fitting that the orchestra will perform a piece by Hailstork during Lockington’s last season as Music Director. The “Dylana’s Sibelius” concert opens with a world premiere of Hailstork’s Hercules: the ‘veriest dandy’ slave. The piece tells the story of Hercules, the chief cook in President George Washington’s home in 1790. The one-movement piece is divided into four sections that describe Hercules’ celebrated artistry in the kitchen, his first thoughts of freedom from bondage and his subsequent escape from slavery.
The first half of the concert continues with a performance of Jean Sibelius’ Concerto for Violin in D minor, Op. 47 by Dylana Jenson. After her triumphant success at the Tchaikovsky Competition, Ms. Jenson became the youngest and first American woman to win the Silver Medal. She made her Carnegie Hall debut playing the Sibelius Concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra soon afterwards. “Dylana’s Sibelius” pays tribute to that concert as Ms. Jenson performs what is often considered one the greatest violin concerto of the 20th century. The concerto is known for its haunting and somber quality and its technical difficulty.
The concert’s second half comprises of Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100. One of the hallmarks of the Russian composer’s Fifth Symphony is its profusion of melody. Even though Prokofiev did not intend to tell a story with his Fifth Symphony, he did give a hint at what he was intending: a symphony glorifying the human spirit, praising the free and happy man, and the purity of his soul.
Tickets
Tickets start at $18 and are available at the Symphony office, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.) Tickets are available by phone in the evening and on the weekend by calling 616.885.1241. Tickets are available at the DeVos Place Box Office, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets may also be purchased through Ticketmaster, 800.982.2787, online at GRSymphony.org or in person at Ticketmaster outlets: select D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare Stores and Walmart. Tickets purchased at these locations will include a Ticketmaster service fee. Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the night of the concert by enrolling in the Symphony’s Student Passport program. This is a MySymphony360 eligible concert.
About the Grand Rapids Symphony
The Grand Rapids Symphony was officially organized in 1930 and is nationally recognized for the quality of its concerts and educational programs. Led by Music Director David Lockington, ten concert series are presented, featuring a wide range of music and performance styles. More than 400 performances are presented each year, touching the lives of some 170,000. Nearly half of those who benefit are students, senior citizens and people with disabilities reached through extensive education and community service programs. The Symphony’s Affiliated Organizations include the Grand Rapids Bach Festival, Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and Classical Orchestra, and Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses. The Symphony also provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. To learn more about the Grand Rapids Symphony please visit GRSymphony.org.
This activity is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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