PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra has suspended its performance activities due to heightened safety precautions across Washington state, conductor and music director Jonathan Pasternack announced this week.
“We were so fortunate to have had the opportunity to prepare and record our Nov. 7 program, before having to suspend our activities again,” Pasternack said.
Earlier this month, a Symphony ensemble produced a special concert video that is now available for viewing online; links are provided at portangeles symphony.org and on the Port Angeles Symphony Facebook page.
Music lovers also can find out more by emailing PASymphony@olypen.com.
The concert, along with an interview with guest soloists, the Sempre Sisters — Charlotte Marckx and Olivia Marckx — are free to the public.
Donations to the nonprofit Symphony are welcome via a link on its website or to Port Angeles Symphony, P.O. Box 2148, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
The ensemble recorded an hour-long performance of Brahms’ Double Concerto and Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings while practicing safety protocols: face masks, social distancing, a shorter format than usual and far fewer players than normal. Guest violinist Charlotte Marckx and cellist Olivia Marckx of Bellevue live in the same household.
Pasternack had planned a Dec. 12 concert with a slightly larger chamber orchestra and guest soloist Alexander Tutunov from Ashland, Ore. That performance was to be offered online. But with the restrictions on gatherings imposed this week through Dec. 14, rehearsals and the video recording aren’t possible.
Pasternack’s hope is that members of the Symphony, including musicians from Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles, will meet again on Jan. 25 to start rehearsals for a Feb. 20 concert.
Elisa Barston, principal second violinist with the Seattle Symphony, is slated as the guest soloist, with Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings” on the program.
“As soon as we’re able to do so,” Pasternack said, “you can be sure we’ll be back making music for our community, more fervently and joyously than ever before.”
