‘Bringing art forms together’: 200 performers collaborate on classic production

Mackenzie Meleski, Contributing Writer

The Richmond Ballet, the Richmond Symphony and the City Choir of Washington are collaborating on an adaptation of the Carl Orff score “Carmina Burana.”

“Carmina Burana” is a classic work that is favored by ballet companies, symphony orchestras and audiences all over the world, according to the Richmond Symphony website. It is most famous for the song “O Fortuna.” The ballet features choreography by John Butler.

The performance will run from Sept. 22 through 24. Over 200 performers from the ballet, symphony, Richmond Symphony Chorus and City Choir of Washington collaborate on this show, according to Audrey Fain, the PR and communications director for the Richmond Ballet.

“It is quite an intense and powerful show,” Fain said. “We line the theater with the chorus, so it is surround sound and an immersive experience of music and dance.”

Preceding the show is a shorter ballet performance titled “Thrive,” choreographed by Richmond Ballet choreographer Ma Cong. This performance features music composed by Oliver Davis.

The Richmond Ballet and Richmond Symphony have collaborated on many works in the past, according to Fain.

“What is fun and different about this show is that instead of us hiring the symphony to accompany our performances, such as with ‘The Nutcracker,’ this time we are truly partners and working together on every aspect,” Fain said.

The Richmond Ballet currently consists of 20 company dancers, according to its website. The dancers have trained for “Carmina Burana” for several months and first performed the show at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia on Aug. 30. 

Christian Renforth, a Richmond native who joined the Richmond Ballet this year, said that the greatest challenge of “Carmina Burana” involves stamina and technical precision. Six couples occupy the stage during the production and must execute the same lifts and steps in unison.

“The magnitude of Carl Orff’s score is iconic when used in movies and television but when you hear in person with a full symphony, it’s euphoric,” Renforth said. “I catch goosebumps every time I’ve had the pleasure to dance this ballet and I know the audience will be sharing in this same sensation with us on stage.”

Celeste Gaiera, another dancer featured in “Thrive” and “Carmina Burana,” joined Richmond Ballet in 2021. She previously worked with Ma Cong in productions at the Texas Ballet Theater. Working with him again in Richmond felt like a “full circle moment,” Gairea said.

Since “Carmina Burana” requires collaboration in various ways, such as partner-based movements, rehearsing and performing with the symphony and choir required even more teamwork, Gairea said. 

“With ballets, you sometimes are fortunate to have a live orchestra,” Gaiera said, “A lot of times we have recordings, but the fact that we also have live opera singers, it just feels that what’s really special about this production is that we’re bringing art forms together.”

Esther Tonea, a soprano and featured vocalist for “Carmina Burana,” said that this was the first time she had worked so closely with a ballet company. The performance is also her first experience working with the Richmond Ballet and the Richmond Symphony. 

“Many operas include a ballet, but the main performers are the singers,” Tonea said. “Here the balance is reversed, and I’m so inspired by watching these incredibly talented dancers work. I feel so lucky to watch how they prepare for and work through a rehearsal and how they literally embody the music in performance.”

The Richmond Ballet offers $20 student rush tickets to any full-time student that presents a college ID, according to Fain. Student tickets can be purchased by calling the Richmond Ballet at (804) 344-0906 x224 or visiting the Richmond Ballet Box Office at 407 E. Canal St.