(September 21, 2022) Santa Barbara, CA – To celebrate the opening of its 70th Anniversary season, the Santa Barbara Symphony is thrilled to join creative forces with State Street Ballet, The Santa Barbara Choral Society, Quire of Voyces, and Music Academy’s Sing! children’s chorus, to bring the epic Carmina Burana to life on stage at The Granada Theatre on Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16. Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti will lead more than 150 performers on stage, along with the Symphony orchestra, in this spectacular tour-de-force concert. This is the second time many of these arts organizations have come together for this large-scale performance, creating a beautiful tradition for the entire community to enjoy. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online here.
“This performance is going to be truly unforgettable! The Santa Barbara Symphony is all about presenting notable works in an entirely new and fresh way, and we are excited and grateful to bring together Santa Barbara’s cultural community for what promises to be one of the highlights of the season.” shares Nir Kabaretti, Santa Barbara Symphony’s Music & Artistic Director, and conductor of the performances.
One of the most instantly recognizable pieces of choral music, Carmina Burana is based on a medieval manuscript of poems dating back to the 11th century and was written by young European clergy known for composing satirical poetry, frequently with profane and obscene lyrics. The songbook consists of nearly 250 poems, on subjects ranging from sex and gambling to crusades and corruption. The collection was discovered in 1803 in a Benedictine monastery in Carl Orff’s native Bavaria; the word “Burana” is the Latin form of Beuren, the name of the German town where the monastery was located.
“Collaboration is one of the pillars of the Santa Barbara Symphony – both on and off the stage. In Santa Barbara, we benefit by having both high caliber, professional arts organizations and visionary supporters in the community that help us bring projects to life that would simply not be possible for one organization alone,” said Kathryn R Martin, The Symphony’s President & CEO.
“The Granada Theatre is the ideal venue to create a production of this magnitude. This is what we enjoy most – bringing world-class performances to the Santa Barbara community.“ said Palmer Jackson, Executive Chairman of The Granada.
This performance is presented by The Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara Symphony, and State Street Ballet.
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
State Street Ballet, William Soleau, Choreographer
State Street Ballet, Rodney Gustafson, Founding Director
SB Choral Society, Jo Anne Wasserman, Director
Quire of Voyces, Nathan Kreitzer, Director
Music Academy Sing! children’s chorus, Erin McKibben, Director
Soloists
Jana McIntyre, Soprano
Valdis Jansons, Baritone
Randall Scotting, Countertenor
Program
Gabriel Fauré | Pavane, Op. 50, featuring State Street Ballet in a ballet choreographed by SSB Resident Choreographer, William Soleau
Camille Saint-Saëns | Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah
Carl Orff | Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana is generously sponsored by Principal Concert Sponsor Brooks & Kate Firestone; Artist Sponsors Duncan & Suzanne Mellichamp; Selection Sponsors Chris Lancashire, Ruth & John Matuszeksi, Wallin Studios and Drs. Fred & Linda Wudl.
Tickets for Carmina Burana on Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 16 at 3:00 p.m. at the Granada Theatre can be purchased online here. Season subscriptions to The Symphony’s 70th Anniversary Season are on sale now with packages starting as low as $112 for a four-concert package, and $184 for a complete seven-concert package. Two “One-Night-Only” events are available for subscribers to purchase: “New Year’s Eve with The Symphony” and “An Evening with Sinatra.” For subscriptions and ticket information visit www.TheSymphony.org or call 805-898-9386.
