Review: Olympia Symphony Orchestra performs ‘Believe’ at Capital City Pride
Originally published June 29, 2026
The Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) came into the Capital City Pride with the goal of combining “classical beauty and diva energy” to embrace pride “in full color” — and they did exactly that and more with their program, “Believe.”
OSO swept audiences away with their heartfelt, inspiring, and feel-good program including songs and pieces like:
Gluck’s “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” from the opera “Orfeo and Eurydice”
Medleys arranged by Molly Turner and Em Westman that contained songs including (but not limited to): “Its Raining Men” by the Weather Girls, “Celebratation” by Kool and the Gang, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga, “Believe” by Cher, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John, and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.
The presence of OSO and companies like it at Capital City Pride cemented a message we all need right now: we believe in you. With this year’s Pride having a full spectrum of weather patterns, one could quite literally say that OSO is there for us “come rain or shine!”
I applaud the symphony for going with the flow and maintaining such a positive presence in the midst of all weather related challenges that came their way — they made it look easy (and I am sure it did not feel that way at times). Every time I watch OSO, I am in awe of their professional qualities, Music Director & Conductor Alexandra Arrieche’s sparkling and loving personality, and the way they bring me to a place of peace and daydreams.
The captivated audience clapped, cheered and danced to every song, and the vision of it brought a happy tear to my eye. It was a blast! Who could ask for anything more? We were all united — young and old, people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and roles in the LGBTQ+ community. There are not many spaces in this world where that rings true, but just as host Drag Queen Synergy stated, “Pride is for everybody.”
Every offering in the program was beautiful, but there is one performance that was truly special that I would like to highlight today:
Mando Surita and Jennifer Hermann play “Dance of the Blessed Spirits”
Gluck’s “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” is considered one of the most enchanting melodies ever written, and now after hearing it for the first time performed live, I can see why. The piece itself is composed in such a way that seems to be written by Mother Nature herself, filled with hope, love, and a whimsy we can only gain by stilling our minds and breathing in the whispers of the wind and the beauty that surrounds us in our great outdoors.
Mando Surita and Jennifer Hermann leaned into the wonder of the piece, playing everything with such love and intention. Surita’s playing brought tears to my eyes as they played every note with a tenderness, vulnerability, and hope similar to what you would feel in a prayer. Not just any prayer, the kind of prayer you feel at a Christmas Eve Candlelight service.
Yes, my mind goes back to my Christian (and liberal, democrat, Anti-Trump) roots, but I believe that the ideas of prayer and sacredness can be found in other religions, belief systems, and connections to nature. Surita and Hermann’s performance definitely contained that universal quality just as music itself does.
While this sort of “prayer” did not have any words, my heart understood what it was saying. The prayer was for all of us — that we may feel seen, loved, cherished, and be filled with hope and joy. It was also a prayer for the future — may our beloved earth find healing and protection, and may we find a way to create peace and justice.
It is not often we get to enjoy an outdoor performance, but hearing this piece performed live at the port, as each note was held by the wind and carried off into the great beyond, was breathtaking.
Pride is full of bright, loud, exuberant moments, and I am grateful for the pause this moment gave us to take it all in and to connect to what matters most: love.
May love remain in your hearts as June ends, but the conversation around pride, music, and community continues all year long.