Handel's
Messiah
Overview
Handel’s Messiah is one of the most beloved and enduring masterpieces in all of classical music—a powerful celebration of hope, redemption, and divine glory. From the glorious celebration of “The Trumpet Shall Sound” to the triumphant majesty of the “Hallelujah” chorus, this iconic oratorio combines stirring solo arias, vibrant choruses, and exquisite orchestration in a work that continues to inspire and uplift audiences around the world. Whether heard for the first time or the hundredth, Messiah remains a transcendent experience and a cornerstone of the choral repertoire. Guest soloists: Emerald Lessley, Soon Cho, Andrew Etherington, and Micah Parker.
Season Subscriptions Open Until October 19th
Prices
Adult: $15-35*
Youth (6-18): $10
Child: (5 and under): free
Teachers & Military: 15% discount - email for discount code or call 360-373-1722
*$25 Adult for general seating at Dec 13th
Length
2 hours
Program Book
Click Here
Program
Handel: Messiah
with the Bremerton Symphony Chorale
featuring Emerald Lesley, Soprano; Soon Cho, Mezzo; Andrew Etherington, Tenor; Micah Parker, Baritone
Featured Soprano
Dr. Emerald Lessley
A native of of the Bay Area, Emerald Lessley has lived and performed across the U.S. and in Europe. Some of her favorite operatic roles include Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Eurydice in Glück’s Orphée et Eurydice, Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Suor Angelica in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Calisto in Cavalli’s La Calisto, and Semele in Handel’s Semele. In addition to traditional operatic repertoire, Emerald is an active performer of new music. She loves premiering new works and was thrilled to perform the role of Belisa in the U.S. premiere of Maderna’s opera Don Perlimplìn. She has also enjoyed recent collaborations with composers on concerts in both the U.S. and Europe.
Featured Mezzo
Soon Cho
Lyric mezzo-soprano Soon Cho has earned acclaim for her “potent” and “intense and incisive” stage presence (Opera News) and has been hailed as “regal in bearing, with vocal endowments to match” (Cincinnati Post). Her emotionally compelling portrayal of Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas was described as “heart-wrenching,” leaving audiences in tears.
Cho’s repertoire spans canonical works from the 18th through 20th centuries and contemporary music by living composers. Her notable operatic roles include Richard Strauss’s Der Komponist (Ariadne auf Naxos), Mozart’s Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Bellini’s Adalgisa (Norma), John Adam’s Mao’s Second Secretary (Nixon in China), and Puccini’s Suzuki (Madama Butterfly). She has performed with Cincinnati Opera, Dayton Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Houston Grand Opera’s Opera-to-Go, Seattle Opera’s Outreach, and internationally with the Seongnam Arts Center Opera in South Korea and the Puccini Festival in Italy.
A passionate advocate for contemporary works, Cho originated the lead role in the world premiere of Greg Youtz’s Tacoma Method with Tacoma Opera, a story addressing the 1885 expulsion of Chinese citizens. She also premiered the role of Wally in Jared Schwartz’s Egon in Schiele, commissioned by the Neue Galerie in New York City, showcasing her dedication to bringing new compositions to life. Equally at home on the concert stage, Cho appeared in Mozart’s Requiem at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in China, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder with the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra, and Dvořák’s Stabat Mater with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Her international concert appearances include the Beaune International Festival in France and the Ghent New Music Festival in Belgium. In the Pacific Northwest, she has collaborated with Symphony Tacoma, Harmonia Seattle, Vashon Opera, PLU Choral Union, Seattle Wind Symphony and the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival in Leavenworth.
In addition to her performing career, Dr. Cho is a dedicated educator, serving as an Associate Professor of Voice at Pacific Lutheran University. Her students have achieved success in prestigious singing competitions, and many have gone on to pursue graduate degrees at renowned institutions and careers in music education.
Featured Tenor
Andrew Etherington
Andrew Etherington of Overland Park, KS, completed his music undergraduate studies at Ole Miss and honed his skills with Bill Hall’s American Opera Studio. Andrew then attended The Peabody Institute in Baltimore, studying both performance and pedagogy, and performed with companies Baltimore Lyric, Baltimore Concert Opera, and Washington National Opera. He moved to Seattle in 2015 and joined the voice faculty of Olympic College in Bremerton. Since 2017, Andrew has been a regular opera chorister and is enjoying recent success in covering roles and performing comprimario parts at Seattle Opera, in addition to singing supportive, lead, and title roles with Tacoma Opera, Vashon Opera, Pacific Northwest Opera, Kitsap Opera, and Puget Sound Concert Opera. Recently, Andrew accepted the position of Artistic Director of Kitsap Opera in Bremerton.
Featured Baritone
Micah Parker
Micah Parker, a Bremerton native, is thrilled to join the BWSS for Messiah. He’s performed such operatic roles as, Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore, Fredrik in A Little Night Music, the title role of Gianni Schicchi, Germont in La traviata, the Count in Nozze di Figaro, Escamillo in Carmen, and most recently Valentin in Faust. He regularly recitals in academic and professional settings, particularly enjoying work with younger generations. His penchant for outreach has led him to work with Northwest Opera in Schools, Etc., and local community colleges and high schools to showcase opera as an art form. His latest engagements include co-directing Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, performing solos in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bernstein’s Gloria and Fauré’s Requiem, and directing Massenet’s Cendrillon. Micah recently took up the role of General Manager for Kitsap Opera, and is energized at the forward trajectory of the company.
BSA Musicians
Alan Futterman
Music Director
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