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Just like Life, Music is full of mysteries and surprises, puzzles and enigmas… Join us as we explore and discover music that challenges our expectations, moves us in mysterious ways and delights us with surprises!
Thalia Symphony Orchestra, one of Seattle’s oldest performing arts organizations, announces its 2026-27 Season under Music Director Joseph Pollard White- ‘Mysteries, Puzzles, Surprises, Enigmas’.
Irish composer, A.J. Potter, composed Variations on a Popular Tune in 1955. This enigmatic piece is a juxtaposition of a famous Irish traditional folk song “The Wild Colonial Boy” and the very first Irish composition to utilize a twelve-note (dodecaphonic) scale, blending Irish melodic material with modern classical techniques.
Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations completed this work in 1899. Brilliantly orchestrated, each variation has a cryptic title and distinct character that suggests one of Elgar’s friends. In addition, the composer suggested that there is a ‘hidden theme’ behind the whole piece- the enigma- still an unsolved mystery.
Also on the program is Lincoln Portrait by the great American composer Aaron Copland. Written in 1942, it is a setting of several noted quotations from President Abraham Lincoln. We are honored to have as our speaker The Honorable Bruce Harrell, former mayor of Seattle.
Why did you choose Lincoln Portrait?
Lincoln Portrait narrator and former Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, was born and raised in Seattle. As a high school student, Mr. Harrell played on Garfield High School’s football, baseball and wrestling teams, receiving nine varsity letters and graduating in 1976 as class Valedictorian. Harrell attended the University of Washington on a football scholarship, rejecting an offer to attend Harvard University, and played for the Washington Huskies. Harrell graduated from U.W. Law school and practiced for 20+ years. He is currently the CEO of Filium Corp. Mr. Harrell is honored and thrilled to give of his time to further the mission of Thalia Symphony.
