The Grand Rapids Symphony Celebrates Orchestral Gems in Final Classical Series Concert for 2010-11 Season

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, April 08, 2011 (Press-News.org) Hear some of the most treasured pieces of orchestral music when the Grand Rapids Symphony presents "Orchestral Gems" at DeVos Performance Hall on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m.

David Lockington will take the podium to lead the Grammy-nominated orchestra in the final Richard and Helen DeVos Classical concert of the season, highlighting - and reinventing - cherished pieces of orchestral music. The Symphony will be joined by one of the world's premiere concert violinists, Anne Akiko Meyers, as well as distinguished concert organist Huw Lewis.

The evening will feature "Remix in D," an updated interpretation of the Pachelbel's immortal Canon in D composed by the Symphony's own Alexander Miller.
Other selections include Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 and Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3, "Organ Symphony."

"Just as no two orchestras are alike, no two performances of any symphonic piece are ever the same," Lockington said. "Each presentation of an old favorite is really a retelling of a familiar story. In the process, something new is discovered.

"That's certainly the case when Ale Miller takes one of the most famous melodies of all time and remixes its ingredients to create Nouvelle Pachelbel. Audiences will get to compare the two versions side by side."

Miller, who is the orchestra's assistant principal oboe, has written a number of orchestral works, but says that this bridal favorite created a special challenge: How do you create something new when the shadow of one of the most recognizable pieces ever written is so omnipresent? Miller said that he believes the audience will be able to separate the original from his version, which draws on hip-hop composition techniques and abstractions of the original theme.

Anne Akiko Meyers will join the Symphony for Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major. Mozart wrote this piece, along with five other violin concertos, during a particularly prolific period of his career where he churned out more than 100 compositions in just two years. The piece is full of surprises, from the fanciful violin solo in the beginning to the dream-like character and the delightful solo cadenza near the end.

Meyers is a chamber musician, recording artist and educator, remarkable for her creative diversity and collaborations with world-class musicians from both the classical and popular worlds. Since her debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 11, Meyers has made regular appearances with the major orchestras of the world, including appearances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, as well as "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

Concert organist Huw Lewis and the orchestra come together for the final piece of the program, Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, which was written for the London Philharmonic in 1886. The work is unique in that Saint-Saëns uses the organ as if it were simply another orchestral instrument, working in both its soft cords and majestic eruptions.

"The organ symphony is Saint-Saëns' equivalent of Beethoven's 5th," Lockington said. "It moves from earthly torment to spiritual triumph, from the profane to the sacred. Beethoven brought the devout trombones over to the orchestra while Saint-Saëns returns the entire orchestra to the church in order to bring a fresh perspective to the organ."

Lewis is the organist at Hope College and director of music at St. John's Episcopal Church in Detroit. An international artist, he has performed extensively through the United States, Europe and Russia. The Welsh native and University of Michigan graduate has appeared as a soloist many times with numerous orchestras. He recently participated in the world premieres of concertos by Alfred Fedak and Michael Daugherty.

These concerts are supported by the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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), or by calling 616/454-9451, Ext. 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.) Tickets are available at the DeVos Place Box Office, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or on the day of the concert two hours prior to the performance. Tickets may also be purchased through Ticketmaster, 800/982-2787, online at http://www.grsymphony.org, or in person at Ticketmaster outlets: select D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare Stores and Walmart. Tickets purchased at these locations will include a Ticketmaster service fee. Student Passport tickets are available for this concert.

About the Grand Rapids Symphony
The Grammy-nominated Grand Rapids Symphony was officially organized in 1930 and is recognized as one of America's leading regional orchestras. Led by Music Director David Lockington, eight 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 sponsors the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and Classical Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses, and also provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. To learn more about the Grand Rapids Symphony, please visit http://www.grsymphony.org.