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GR Symphony brings violinist Midori to DeVos Hall for two-night Shostakovich run

GR Symphony brings violinist Midori to DeVos Hall for two-night Shostakovich run

Money Moves Grand Rapids, MI local

Two nights at a 2,543-seat hall are now over, with no attendance or review reporting yet

4 days ago: Final night of the program

Overview

Updated Oct 31

The Grand Rapids Symphony and violinist Midori were scheduled to play DeVos Performance Hall on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. Marcelo Lehninger conducts Louise Farrenc's Overture No. 1, Ravel's complete Mother Goose ballet and Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1.

As of November 8, no attendance figures or reviews of either night had appeared. The venue lists 2,543 seats. Midori plays the same concerto with the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Maine on November 10.

Why it matters

Whether DeVos Hall fills for Midori shows if the Grand Rapids Symphony can still draw a full house for a flagship classical date.

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Key Indicators

2,543
Venue capacity
DeVos Performance Hall's seat count on its own website.
2
Nights in run
Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026.
3
Works on the program
Farrenc's Overture No. 1, Ravel's Mother Goose ballet and Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1.
Not disclosed
Attendance
No sales or turnout figures appear in the sources reviewed as of November 8.

Voices

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People Involved

MG
Midori (Midori Goto)
Featured violin soloist
Performs Shostakovich with the Grand Rapids Symphony on November 6-7, 2026, and with the Portland Symphony Orchestra on November 10.
 Marcelo Lehninger
Marcelo Lehninger
Music Director and conductor
Conducts the Midori-Shostakovich program November 6-7, 2026

Organizations Involved

Grand Rapids Symphony
Grand Rapids Symphony
Performing arts organization
Producer of the November performances

West Michigan's flagship orchestra and resident company of DeVos Performance Hall.
DeVos Performance Hall
DeVos Performance Hall
Performing arts venue
Host venue for the performances

A 2,543-seat arts theater in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

Timeline

2 events Latest: 4 days ago

  1. Final night of the program

    Latest Performance

    Second and last scheduled night of the Midori-Shostakovich run at DeVos Hall.

  2. Night one of Midori plays Shostakovich

    Performance

    The Grand Rapids Symphony and violinist Midori open a two-night program of Shostakovich at DeVos Hall.

Scenarios

1

DeVos Hall fills for Midori

Deadline passed (Nov 10, 2026)

Discussed by: Local arts coverage, if any appears after the performances

Ticket demand pushes one or both nights to sell out or near capacity. The concerts fall on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7.

2

Partial house for the run

Deadline passed (Nov 10, 2026)

Discussed by: Regional orchestra observers tracking post-pandemic classical attendance

Attendance falls well short of capacity. Reviews describe empty sections, or no attendance figure surfaces at all, leaving turnout unmeasured.

3

Run canceled or rescheduled

Deadline passed (Nov 7, 2026)

Discussed by: Standard contingency for weather, illness, or logistics

Illness, weather, or venue issues force either night to be canceled, postponed, or moved. The listing warns dates and times can change.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 1955

Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 premiere (1955)

Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his First Violin Concerto in 1947-48 but withheld it during the Soviet state's anti-formalism campaign. After Stalin died in 1953, he allowed the premiere in Leningrad, with David Oistrakh as soloist.

Then

The Leningrad debut drew a rapturous reception and immediate international performances.

Now

The concerto became one of the century's most recorded violin works, a staple of the repertoire.

Why this matters now

Shostakovich's name on a program carries political weight: his music was once a statement as much as a performance. A major soloist playing his work today inherits that history.

1982

Midori's New York Philharmonic debut (1982)

At 11, Midori made her debut with the New York Philharmonic, the start of a career that has run more than four decades.

Then

Her debut with the New York Philharmonic at 11 drew attention beyond New York.

Now

She has performed with major orchestras since and founded the Midori & Friends music education charity in 1992.

Why this matters now

Midori has been a soloist with major orchestras since she was 11, which is why her name on a program sells tickets.

Sources

(8)
+3
DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony Grand Rapids Symphony Midori Portland Symphony Orchestra Grand Rapids Symphony DeVos Performance Hall Grand Rapids Symphony