Ron Cunningham's Spectacular Carmina Burana
Accompanied by a live orchestra and full chorus

(Carmina Burana is sponsored by Western Health Advantage)

with George Balanchine's Theme and Variations


Ron Cunningham's epic, larger-than-life spectacle set to the soaring music of Carl Orff is the signature masterpiece of the Sacramento Ballet. Complete with full chorus and orchestra, Carmina Burana's erotic passion ignites the senses for an intense eperience not soon forgotten.

Guest soloists Ronit Widmann-Levy (Soprano) and Mark Whatley (Baritone) lend vocal “star power” to Ron Cunningham’s Carmina Burana.


Ronit Widmann - Levy has received accolades for her operatic and concert performances throughout the world. A versatile artist equally at home on both concert and opera stages, Ronit has performed in opera houses and festivals in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, Berlin, Munich, London, Bangkok and Jerusalem. She sang at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Bath and Dartington Festivals in England, the Jüdische Kulturtage in Berlin, and the America Haus Concert Series in Munich. Ms. Widmann-Levy made her début with the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) in February, 2005 in Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri, conducted by Ingo Metzmacher. Since her debut Ronit has regularly performed with Michael Tilson Thomas and the SFS in Carnegie Hall, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony Orchestra

Ronit Widmann-Levy's repertory includes the roles of Violetta, Constanza, Madama Butterfly, Micaela, Mimi, Liù,Gilda and Freia. Symphonic works include, among others: Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Mahler’s 2nd and 4th Symphonies.

Critics consistently write about Ronit’s ability to sing with “compelling conviction and warmth with a voice whose naturally extensive range shows fine-spun altitudes” (Washington Times). The Eugene Register-Guard arts critic said of her performance: “Her voice has a weighty tone, and she uses it with solid technique." Bill Glackin of the Sacramento Bee wrote of her performance of the last scene from Capriccio by Richard Strauss: “she is a singer of compelling conviction and warmth as well as unusual personal beauty”

Future engagements include the Tanglewood Festival with the Boston Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas; Como la Rosa- A concert of Ladino Romansa for voice and Guitar; and Mozart’s life through his letters and music with the Broderick Ensemble. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay area.


Baritone Mark Whatley is quickly becoming known for his smooth lyric baritone voice and dramatic characterizations of roles. His wide variety of roles exemplify his diverse interests and talents, such as his recent performances in Nashville Opera's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe as Strephon, and singing both Deluso and Haemon in Opera Brooklyn's double bill of the Pasatieri operas Signor Deluso and La Divina. Having sung nearly forty roles already in his burgeoning career, other notable performances have included Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro , Gulgielmo in Così fan tutte , Belcore in L'elisir d'amore, Marcello in La bohème , Escamillo in Carmen , Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos , Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas , Bluff in The Impresario , and Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief . Mark has performed operas in numerous venues, including Glimmerglass Opera, Opera North, Nashville Opera, Opera Birmingham, Augusta Opera, Chattanooga Opera, Aspen Opera Theatre, The Opera Company of Brooklyn , Colorado Opera Troupe, and Opera Festival di Roma. He was a young artist with Glimmerglass Opera, Opera North, and Nashville Opera.
Mr. Whatley is also in demand as a concert singer and recitalist. He has performed much of the standard oratorio repertoire appropriate to his voice type, including Bach's St. Matthew Passion , Mendelssohn's Elijah , Haydn's The Creation , Handel's Messiah , Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio , and requiems by Brahms, Fauré, Duruflé, and Mozart. Last year, he performed as baritone soloist in the New York City premiere of the Desenclos Requiem at Brick Church . He has performed concerts at the Cincinnati May Festival, with the Lexington Philharmonic, with the Ecco Chamber Society in Nashville, TN, and at the Aspen Music Festival. In 1999, Mr. Whatley made his New York and Carnegie Hall debut as baritone soloist in Faure's Requiem.
Mr. Whatley has earned honors and awards from many competitions, including winning First Place in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Mid-South Region. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Belmont University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Kentucky . He currently resides in Nashville , Tennessee.




The genius of George Balanchine's magnificent Theme and Variations completes a perfect evening to the glorious music of Peter Tchaikovsky.

When:
Thursday, March 25th, 7:30pm
Friday, March 26th, 7:30pm
Saturday, March 27th, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 28th, 2:00pm

Where:
Community Center Theater
1301 L Street, Sacramento

Tickets:
Prices range from $15.00 - $68.00.
(Tickets for children 12 and under are discounted for all seating areas except the Grand Tier Boxes and 2nd Tier, rows M-N.)

Single tickets to Carmina Burana are on sale now through the Community Center Theater.
Call: 916-808-5181 (Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm)
Walk Up: 1301 L Street, Sacramento CA 95814
Online: www.tickets.com (additional convenience fees apply).

Discounts Available:
Groups of 10 or more get 10% off and groups of 20 or more get 20% off regular adult rates (2nd Tier, rows M-N are not available for the group rate). Click here to visit the Group Ticket Page