In a rare pair of concerts in Port Angeles and Sequim, local actor Lee Harwell will recite a love poem, and Seattle-based music director Adam Stern will accompany him, playing the music of Richard Strauss.
And that’s just part of the program to be presented by the Port Angeles Chamber Orchestra on Friday and Saturday nights.
In addition to “Enoch Arden,” the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the evening features three chamber works: Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 in G Major for Violin and Piano, Robert Linn’s Concertino for Violin and Wind Octet, and Mozart’s 12th Serenade for Winds.
Stern, also the conductor of the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra, will be at the piano, while John Weller, assistant concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony, will be the violin soloist at both concerts.
The Friday concert will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave., Port Angeles, and the Saturday performance will be at the Sequim Worship Center, 640 N. Sequim Ave.
Both performances will start at 7 p.m., and all seats are $12.
Harwell is well-known on the North Olympic Peninsula for his work in more than 100 shows, from “Here’s to the Ladies!” at Key City Public Theatre in Port Townsend to “You Can’t Take It with You” at Olympic Theatre Arts in Sequim.
He is primed to deliver Tennyson’s tale, which is the story of a fisherman-turned-merchant sailor.
“The heart of the tale centers on the young man’s childhood love, whom he marries when they come of age,” Harwell said.
“Through various turns of events, he leaves home to serve his family and seek his fortune — only to be shipwrecked.”
Harwell noted, too, that the 1864 poem inspired Strauss to compose music for it in 1897.
Then, two “Enoch Arden” movies were made: by D.W. Griffith in 1911 and by Christy Cabanne in 1915.
“It is the power and strength of [the sailor’s] love that I find most compelling,” Harwell added.
“But to explain why would be giving away the ending.”
A recitation such as this one is an unusual occurrence in a chamber concert, according to Mark Wendeborn, Port Angeles Symphony executive director.
Tickets
Tickets to the concerts are on sale in Port Angeles at Port Book and News, 104 E. First St., and at the Port Angeles Symphony office, 216-C N. Laurel St.
In Sequim, they’re available at BeeDazzled at The Buzz, 130 N. Sequim Ave.
Tickets will also be sold at the door Friday and Saturday evening.
Details about this and forthcoming orchestra events are at www.PortAngelesSymphony.org and 360-457-5579.
________
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.