Opening Weekend / 2026-2027 Season

Beethoven's Ninth: A New Beginning

Friday, September 18, 2026 at 8:00 pm

Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 8:00 pm

DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids

Tickets from $18

Program

What you will hear

An overture, a concerto, and then the work that changed everything. Total run time approximately 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission.

  • Beethoven

    Overture to "Egmont," Op. 84

    Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

    9 min
  • Brahms

    Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83

    Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

    49 min
  • Intermission

    20 min
  • Beethoven

    Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral"

    Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
    I. Allegro ma non troppo
    II. Molto vivace
    III. Adagio molto e cantabile
    IV. Presto: "Ode to Joy"

    75 min
Guest Artists

The people on stage

Music Director & Conductor

Marcelo Lehninger

Marcelo Lehninger has led the Grand Rapids Symphony since 2016, building a reputation for programs that mix canonical depth with genuine surprise. Brazilian-born and trained at the New England Conservatory, he has guest-conducted the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Sydney Symphony. His Beethoven is known for clarity and forward momentum: no sentimentality, no excess weight.

Piano Soloist

Yuja Wang

One of the most talked-about pianists of her generation, Yuja Wang brings technical ferocity and uncommon interpretive depth to the Brahms Second Concerto. She has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and her recording of the Brahms with Claudio Abbado remains a benchmark. This is her Grand Rapids Symphony debut.

Plan Your Visit

Know before you go.

No homework required. Come as you are and enjoy a great night out.

Venue

DeVos Performance Hall is at 303 Monroe Ave NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Doors open 45 minutes before curtain. Late seating is accommodated at suitable breaks.

Parking

The Van Andel Arena ramp on Fulton Street is a one-minute walk and costs $5 on concert nights. Street meters are free after 6 pm. The Arena parking structure on Weston Street NW has direct skybridge access.

Run Time

Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission after the Brahms concerto. The concert concludes around 10:25 pm.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible seating is available on every level. Assisted listening devices are available at the box office. Large-print programs are available at Guest Services. For accommodations, call 616.454.9451.