PORT TOWNSEND — It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that many of the more than 1,000 attendees would like to see happen again before too long.
“We are really lucky that the symphony came out and played for us,” said Centrum Executive Director John MacElwee after the Seattle Symphony’s performance in McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park on Friday night.
“It was a special occasion.”
This special quality, MacElwee said, went beyond the appearance of the orchestra itself.
The concert was the second-to-last appearance of musical director Gerard Schwarz, who retired after a final performance Saturday in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.
The orchestra opened with Franz Schubert’s “Overture to Rosamunde,” followed by Philip Glass’ “Harmonium Mountain” and Samuel Jones’ “Reflections —Songs of Fathers and Daughters.”
The two latter pieces were world premieres of those works.
After the intermission, the orchestra played Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.”
After the two-hour performance, Schwarz attended a donor party, where he expressed enthusiasm for playing in Port Townsend.
“Last night’s performance was scheduled between two performances of Mahler’s ‘Resurrection,’ which is an incredibly difficult piece,” MacElwee said Saturday.
“That they came between those shows was a real honor.”
On stage, Schwarz said that someone asked him if the orchestra would perform between the two Mahlers, and he answered, “Are you kidding?
“But when they asked me to come to Port Townsend, I said, ‘Sure,’” he said.
While some tickets were available up to the last minute, the show was almost sold out, MacElwee said.
The crowd was less formal and “more eclectic,” as one attendee was overheard saying, than the standard Seattle Symphony crowd.
The dress varied from formal wear to blue jeans.
Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval was among those who dressed up for the occasion.
“We may be small, but I applaud Centrum for bringing the big city to us,” she said.
There was a diversity of age, with Seaport Landing bringing 16 seniors and 25 tickets having been donated by Centrum to members of the Port Townsend High School Orchestra.
It was a special treat for those students, since orchestra members Rinnah Becker and Sam Gordon performed as guest musicians.
Gordon had been on the McCurdy stage exactly one week before for the high school commencement ceremony.
MacElwee said he hoped to bring other symphonic concerts to the venue.
“It’s an incredible facility and one of the best places of its kind in the state,” he said.
“In Washington, you really want a place that is indoors, and the sound is great.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
