West Michigan Symphony opens its 2026-27 Masterworks Series next month with a violin that carries its own strange history, as violinist Vadim Gluzman performs Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto on a 1690 Stradivarius once owned by the very musician who rejected the piece. The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Frauenthal Center in Muskegon.
The instrument's backstory is almost as dramatic as the concerto itself. Tchaikovsky dedicated his Violin Concerto to violinist Leopold Auer in 1878, only for Auer to reject the work as unplayable, according to MLive.com. More than a century later, Gluzman will bring the concerto to life on that same musician's own 1690 Stradivarius, an instrument he performs on through a long-term loan from Chicago's Stradivari Society.
A Violinist Who Has Played the World's Biggest Stages
Gluzman has appeared with leading orchestras worldwide, per the same MLive report, and his Muskegon appearance marks the first stop in West Michigan Symphony's new season. The Nov. 13 program will open the symphony's 2026-27 Masterworks Series and also includes Valerie Coleman's “Seven O'Clock Shout,” a tribute to COVID-19 frontline workers, alongside Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8.
Tickets for the Frauenthal Center performance start at $19 for adults and $10 for students. Active-duty military members and veterans receive a 50% discount for up to two tickets in recognition of Veterans Day, and tickets can be purchased online, by calling 231-727-8001, or in person at the Frauenthal Center box office. The concert is also included in the symphony's Premier, Masterworks, and Create Your Own subscription packages, according to West Michigan Symphony.
From Big Stage to Small, a Second Night With Gluzman
Gluzman isn't leaving town after one performance. He'll return Saturday, Nov. 14, for an intimate chamber music program at The Block, joined by pianist Angela Yoffe, who is also his wife. The pair will present a self-curated program featuring works by Prokofiev, Bach and Bartók, drawing from favorites the couple has chosen themselves, according to the West Michigan Symphony's event listing. That performance starts at 7:30 p.m., with tickets starting at $35.
Gluzman will again appear on the 1690 ex-Leopold Auer Stradivari for the Block performance, the symphony's listing notes, keeping the same storied instrument in play for both nights. West Michigan Symphony executive director Andy Buelow said experiencing Gluzman two nights in a row, moving from the big stage to the small one, is a rare treat and something like a mini artist residency for Muskegon audiences.
A Free Chance to Hear From the Artist Himself
Ahead of both performances, the symphony is hosting a free Lunch n' Learn event Nov. 11 from noon to 1 p.m. at The Block, where Music Director Scott Speck and Gluzman will share insights and anecdotes with attendees. It's a rare opportunity for local audiences to hear directly from a musician whose instrument has outlived the man who once dismissed the very concerto he's now bringing to Muskegon.
