Mastersingers and Ballet Join to Present Carmina Burana

The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers and Artistic Director Justin Raffa are thrilled to collaborate once again with the Mid-Columbia Ballet in a presentation of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, an exuberant, playful, and highly-recognizable piece of music that is often heard in movies and commercials.

The 90-voice Mid-Columbia Mastersingers Symphonic Choir will be joined by guest artist soloists: soprano Paige Cutrona, countertenor Gus Mercante, and baritone Jeremy Irland, along with two pianos and percussion. The composer intended the music to be accompanied by visual elements, and for this production, the Mid-Columbia Ballet, led by Artistic Director Debra Rogo, will perform a wide variety of dance numbers during many of the movements.

Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed in 1935 and 1936 by Carl Orff, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. Its full Latin title is Carmina Burana:
Cantiones profanae cantoribus et choris cantandae comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis ("Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magical images"). It was first performed in Frankfurt on June 8, 1937, and has become a beloved part of classical music programs throughout the world.

The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers are grateful to the REACH Museum for sponsorship of this program.

The performances will be Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25 at 8:00pm, at the REACH Museum, 1943 Columbia Park Trail in Richland. Tickets are $25 for adults, and free for K-12 students. This production is the final concert of the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers 2018-19 season. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mcmastersingers.org or by calling
509-460-1766. To receive free notifications about Mastersingers concerts and events, join our text club by
texting the word “choir” to 78816.