Carmina Burana Comes to Northwest Florida
Northwest Florida Ballet and Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra stage joint production
This spring there will be an ethereal merging of dance, symphonic music and opera that will enliven and inspire audiences!
On March 9 and 10, the Northwest Florida Ballet and the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra will present an original production of Carl Orff’s masterpiece, Carmina Burana, and Afterglow, choreographed by NFB’s own artistic director, Todd Eric Allen.
Carmina Burana was composed in 1934, and is based on ancient poems dating back to the 11th century depicting an exotic medieval paradise. The production is intended to be a staged cantata for orchestra, chorus, soloists and dancers.
The live music will be performed by the NFSO and NFSO Chorale, led by maestro Todd Craven in conjuction with NFB dancers and soloists from the New Orleans Ballet Theatre under the choreography of Gregory Schramel, artistic director of NOBT. Rising opera stars Sarah Vautour, Chris Bozeka and Ben Taylor will be the featured vocal soloists.
“Carmina Burana is this really exciting rock star moment combining voice, ballet and symphonic music coming together to tell this extremely powerful and compelling story,” said Todd Eric Allen, Artistic Director and CEO of the NFB.
Every bit of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center stage, from the orchestra pit to the aprons, will be utilized in this large production with varied moving parts. It’s a production both Allen and Craven have long hoped to bring to this stage.
Previously, Allen has staged Carmina Burana on Mobile Opera in Alabama, and Craven has had a long association and love for the piece as both a conductor and trumpet player. Todd Allen has known NOBT Directors Gregory and Majorie Schramel for many years and is excited that they accepted his offer to participate in this project.
The three organizations will combine talents to bring the first Carmina Burana production to the Emerald Coast.
“Collaboration and pooling of our resources is a wonderful thing to witness even despite some of the logistics it takes to bring three organizations together,” said Craven. “An exciting component is the cross-fertilization of audiences and the opportunity for attendees to experience multiple art forms at once.”
The program will also include the neoclassical ballet, Afterglow, choreographed and conceptualized by Allen. The dancers will be accompanied by the NFSO’s performance of Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ majestic Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. This will be the first time the ballet has been performed with live music, an aspect Allen is excited about.
The evening will be a one-of-a-kind production for our area that brings together powerful music, dance and visual spectacle.
Northwest Florida Ballet
To learn more about the production or to purchase tickets, visit NFBallet.org/Carmina-Burana.
310 Perry Ave. SE, Fort Walton Beach | (850) 664-7787 | nfballet.org
