The journey continues. Following last year’s sold-out performance of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” Grand Rapids audiences can experience the second chapter of this thrilling epic trilogy. The full-length film, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” will be projected in high definition on a 20 by 48 foot wide screen, as the Grand Rapids Symphony, Symphony Chorus, Youth Chorus and guest vocalist – more than 200 musicians in total – perform Howard Shore’s award-winning music score. Internationally-acclaimed conductor Ludwig Wicki will lead two performances, Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. in DeVos Performance Hall.
Audience members will rediscover the power, and gripping adventure, of Peter Jackson's award-winning film adaptation of the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” The film follows Frodo and Sam in their quest to destroy the One Ring and relive the epic battle of Helm’s Deep and the enchanting world of Fangorn Forest.
The choruses will sing in “Elvish,” and other invented languages of Tolkien. Members of the percussion section will play unusual instruments such as bodhrans, Japanese Taiko drums, wood logs and tam-tams.
Guest soloist Mezzo-Soprano Kaitlyn Lusk will also perform. She has performed with Howard Shore’s “The Lord of the Rings Symphony” since 2004 and made her major-orchestral debut in 2003 at the age of 14 with the Baltimore Symphony.
Howard Shore is one of Hollywood’s most prolific composers with more than 60 movie scores to his credit, including “The Silence of the Lambs,” “ Philadelphia,” “Ed Wood,” “The Fly” and “Naked Lunch.” His “Lord of the Rings” trilogy stands as his most towering achievement to date, earning him three Academy Awards.
Tickets for “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” are $32-$100 and are available by calling Ticketmaster, 800/982-2787, at ticketmaster.com, or in person at Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Symphony office, or two hours prior to the performance at the concert venue.
WHO: Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and Youth Chorus, Mezzo-Soprano Kaitlyn Lusk, and Guest Conductor Ludwig Wicki.
WHAT: A journey into the magical world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth when the Grand Rapids Symphony performs Howard Shore’s monumental composition of music for the award-winning film, “The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers.” The full-length film is projected in high definition on a 20 by 48 screen above the orchestra.
WHEN: Two performances. Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16, 7 pm
WHERE: DeVos Performance Hall
SPONSOR: Huntington Bank
MEDIA PARTNERS: FOX 17, 97 LAV-FM, GRNow
TICKETS: Tickets are $32-$100 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 can also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster, 800/982-2787, at ticketmaster.com, 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.
These concerts are made possible with support from the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.