“Grand Rapids Symphony celebrates its 85th anniversary and bids farewell to music director David Lockington at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season next year,” writes Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk in Sunday’s (3/16) Grand Rapids Press (Michigan). “The orchestra, meanwhile, continues its search for Lockington’s successor on the podium. The Classical Series … [includes] a full performance of Stravinsky’s ‘The Firebird’ as well as popular symphonies by Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, including Dvorak’s ‘New World’ Symphony No. 9 and Edward Elgar’s ‘Enigma’” Variations. Lockington’s final appearance will be a performance of Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony No. 2 to end his 16th season as music director in May 2015. ‘It’s incorporating some of my most beloved work,’ said Lockington, who will be named music director laureate of the Grand Rapids Symphony. ‘But we’re also doing a number of new premieres that I’m excited about.’ The symphony will premiere ‘Dialogues of Love’ by Israeli-born composer Avner Dorman, commissioned by the orchestra to include the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and Youth Chorus.… The symphony’s MusicNow Series will open in September with a collaboration of art and music between Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts and the orchestra.… Four guest conductors will lead the symphony during the season of popular symphonic favorites and new music.”
Posted March 18, 2014
