Cape Symphony executive director Michael Albaugh: “I just want to get them up there, and playing.” Matthew Hall photograph
The Cape Symphony returns to the Barnstable Performing Arts Center stage this weekend, its first live performances indoors in a year-and-a-half.
The musicians are vaccinated. The audience will be checked for proof of vaccination. Mask-wearing is mandatory—for musicians as well.
“We want to have the right environment to create music after sixteen, seventeen months,” Albaugh says. “Inspire Joy is our motto, but we recognize the importance of events, and the reality of the world.”
This year, “the reality of the world,” as Albaugh points out, includes “hurricanes, the news in Afghanistan, the continuation of the virus, and vaccinations—it’s emotionally overwhelming.” In addition to all that, the season opening concert, “Victorious Return,” falls on 9/11—the 20th anniversary of another defining, dark moment in our history.
Albaugh is right: it is overwhelming.
The deep desire for the pandemic to be over, for public gatherings to be carefree—and the relief in returning to old habits—gets tempered by recent and past events.
To note the 9/11 anniversary, the CSO will perform works of John Williams, John Corigliano, Brahms, and Beethoven—along with Robert Wendel’s “Towers of Light,” composed in commemoration of the attacks. Jung-Ho Pak, who recently renewed his music directorship at the CSO for an additional five years, conducts.
The CSO joins almost every performing arts group in requiring vaccinations and mask-wearing for indoors audiences. It’s a logistical nuisance, and a decision that requires balancing public health with the strong desire to return to normal.
“We are stepping through this with the utmost safety in mind,” Albaugh says. “We have to do what’s in the best interest of everyone. The positive response from our audience has far outweighed the negative. The musicians have all been vaccinated, and they will wear masks as well.” Wind and brass players are exempt from mask-wearing onstage.
The CSO has planned its typical Masterpiece and CapePops series for the rest of the 2021–22 season, with concerts monthly. Pops performances include a live screening/performance of “Grease” in October, soul and swing music in February, and a Beatles tribute in April.
The Masterpiece series includes a tribute to the Mayflower in November, Irish music in January with fiddler Eileen Ivers and harpist Maeve Gilchrist, pianist Jon Nakamatsu performing Tchaikovsky in April, and the season-ending performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in May.
The April performance will mark the 60th anniversary of the Cape Symphony Orchestra’s founding, and Pak has chosen to perform the original program from that April 4, 1962 concert.
Despite all the turmoil, at least the CSO is back onstage. For many of the musicians, it will be their first performances with an audience since March, 2020.
“As we move forward, we learn from the experiences as a community,” Albaugh says. “We’ve had so many conversations, about health and safety, and logistics, behind the scenes. Now, I just want to get them up there, and playing—and have some real joy.”
The Cape Symphony Orchestra opens its 2021–22 season on Sat., Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 12 at 3:00 p.m. All attendees must show proof of vaccination, or a recent test. Masks are required. For tickets and details about health protocols visit capesymphony.org or call 508 362-1111.
Keith Powers covers music and the arts for Gannett New England, Leonore Overture and Opera News. Follow @PowersKeith; email to keithmichaelpowers@gmail.com.