CARMINA BURANA

Incredible choreography, riveting costumes, strong vocals from over 80 voices (Mendelssohn Choir) and Carl Orff's resounding classic 1937 score, come together in a Pittsburgh Premiere of Dwight Rhoden's moving production of Carmina Burana. The ballet gathers its strength from a world-famous collection of medieval songs and poetry written by monks in a 13th century monastery. Presenting alternately humorous, tragic and tender segments. Rhoden ignites audiences and touches their souls with his exceptional lyrical, athletic, and original dance works. The New York Times has described his choreography as "hot molten lava, flowing with undeniable power."

WITH THE ORCHESTRA

Known by Heart ("Junk") Duet & Octet

Comic, romantic, and fiery by turns, “Known by Heart Duet,” set to Donald Knaack’s “Junk Music” is an excerpt from a suite of dances originally commissioned by American Ballet Theatre in 1998. In this dance, Tharp takes the formal structure of the classical duet (an adagio, two solos and a coda) into a contemporary realm through the witty, fierce, sometimes combative, and always surprising relationship she creates between the partners.