Two Bremerton institutions are celebrating their 80th anniversary, so it’s only fitting that they should host a joint celebration. Both the Bremerton WestSound Symphony and Admiral Theatre started in 1942 and are still going strong eight decades later. Help them celebrate at a special performance Sunday, Mar. 5!
“The very first piece the Bremerton WestSound Symphony played in 1942 was the Barber of Seville Overture, so of course we’ll be playing that on March 5,” says Alan Futterman, Bremerton WestSound Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor. “Since that opera is set in Spain, I decided to use that theme for the rest of our program.”
Mark Hilliard Wilson, founder of the Seattle Guitar Orchestra, will solo with the symphony for Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, which Futterman says is one of those pieces most people recognize the second they hear it. The concert caps off with selections from Carmen, featuring the Bremerton Symphony Chorale.
“There’s a reason Carmen has been a hit for over 100 years,” Futterman says of the passionate opera.
Mark Hilliard Wilson (left) is the guitar soloist at the Bremerton WestSound Symphony’s 80th Anniversary concert, Mar. 5.
Spring with the symphony
The 80th Anniversary performance isn’t your only opportunity to catch the culture and charisma of the Bremerton WestSound Symphony this spring.
- Sunday, Mar. 5 @ 3 p.m. 80th Anniversary at the Admiral Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton. $30 – $50.
- Tuesday, Mar. 14 @ 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (school groups) and Sunday, Mar. 19 @ 3 p.m. (families). OrKIDstra Bremerton Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St., Bremerton. FREE (sponsored by the Bremerton Central Lions Charitable Foundation; reservations recommended). The symphony and chorale bring the Norwegian tall tales of Peer Gynt to life (he tangles with the mountain king’s troll daughters, among other adventures) plus the BWS Youth Jazz ensemble perform along with The Jazz Fly 2: The Jungle Pachanga. Purchase a copy of the popular picture book so you can follow along at the show, and inspire the kids in your family to embrace music!
- Saturday, Apr. 15 @ 7:30 p.m. Brahms and Blooming Brilliance. Central Kitsap High School Performing Arts Center, 10140 Frontier Place NW, Silverdale. $10 – $30. Winners of the Young Artists Competition will perform with the symphony, and then the audience will be treated to Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, “one of the great cornerstones of symphonic music,” Futterman says. Blooming Brilliance is also an opportunity to visit a beautiful new venue, conveniently located in Central Kitsap.
- Sunday, Apr. 30 @ 3 p.m. Annual ‘Out of the Bachs’ Gala: See You in Casablanca! Kitsap Golf & Country Club, 3885 NW Golf Club Hill Rd., Bremerton. A memorable event inspired by the film Casablanca, which premiered the same year as the Bremerton WestSound Symphony.
- Sunday, May 7 @ 3 p.m. Rising Stars Showcase. North Point Church, 1779 NE Hostmark St, Poulsbo. Soloists from the Young Artists Competition perform at this talent-rich concert.
- Sunday, May 21 @ 3 p.m. Opera on the Rhine. Bremerton Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St. Bremerton. $10 – $30. Highlights from Wagner, plus the beautiful Songs of the Auvergne from France, featuring Seattle soprano (and rising star) Tess Altiveros.
- Saturday, Jun. 3 @ 7:30 p.m. The Music of Living. Silverdale Lutheran Church, 11701 Ridgepoint Dr. NW, Silverdale. $10 – $25. Cap off the season with beautiful choral pieces from Dan Forrest and Ola Gjeilo.
Visit www.bremertonwestsoundsymphony.org for more details, and get your tickets today!
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