Classics Up-Close brings orchestral music back to Holland

The acoustic environment and intimate setting of First United Methodist Church will be the backdrop for the Holland Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of the fall 2021 season and its first in-person, indoor concert in more than a year. The setting will enable audience members to experience the symphony in a close, personal way, organizers say.

Classics Up-Close will feature the Holland Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10 at First United Methodist Church, 57 W. 10th St., with soloist Pablo Mahave-Veglia, HSO principal cello and cello professor at GVSU. 

E-tickets

Tickets ($22 for adults, $5 for students) are available in advance through hollandsymphony.org, and at the door.

“We are switching to e-tickets and encouraging people to use their phones to show the QR code for us to scan,” says Amanda Dykhouse with the HSO.  

While the symphony once produced a large book program, now there is one page with a QR code for more information. The paper savings will be significant, Dykhouse says.

“Down the road we will save trees with this switch!” she says.

The switch will also reduce touch points and help prevent the spread of viruses. The HSO will take other precautions as well, such as requiring masks (which will be available at the door for anyone who forgets theirs).

David P. Roossien is the season sponsor and West Michigan Community Bank is the artist sponsor. 

Rarity

At the center of the concert, the orchestra will accompany Mahave-Veglia on Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo Variations.” 

Mahave-Veglia is performing the rarely heard original version of this piece, so there will be a few surprises for those familiar with the more familiar version.

Cellist Pablo Mahave-Veglia resides in Grand Rapids where he is a professor at Grand Valley State University.