TeenTix Blog

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead @ Young Americans' Theatre CompanyEver wondered how the Peanuts characters would do "all growed up?" Good ol' Charlie and the gang (equipped with new names special to the parody) are finding out what real life is like--and it ain't pretty. This dark, high school comedy presented by the Young Americans' Theatre company is an unexpected twist in one infamous childhood comic strip. Tackling issues like death, the afterlife, image and acceptance this play is both hilarious and upsetting and sure to amuse both those familiar with the comic and those who aren't.Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage BlockheadAugust 4 - 7Young Americans' Theatre Company

Agree with Alyssa. This is an addiction (full blown) if it cannot be stopped for two or three hours straight. Last evening yet another great film here in NYC was spoiled by one young lady's constant texting and all of us around her having to be subjected to the 15 watt bulb from her blackberry or IPhone. I asked her to stop and she did for a while 20 minutes. But she started texting again, it was clear she was "jones'ing" as if coming off of a drug and could stay off texting on her phone. She was irritating everyone and several said things and the same process would happen. Using one's cell and texting in theaters and cinemas or in churches (increasing) is rude to everyone who has paid money around her; there is no reason to see a film or play if one is not fully engaged in the entire experience; people's time management issues are not others' burden to carry; texting is making a lot of teens and 20-somethings just appear to be rude and ill mannered. It is as if they've an electronic tracking bracelet. If one is engrossed in a machine one is not engaged by others. Instead of Texting Rows how about they just stay home and text or walk public streets and text? Why enter any theater, church, synagogue, library, restaurant, cinema at all if one is that distracted and disengaged?

Review of Our National Game @ Seattle Art Museum by Olivia O.Aaah, baseball. Even when the home team is on a losing streak, what makes a better summer day than watching a good game with some peanuts and crackerjack? Just in time to answer that question comes Our National Game at Seattle Art Museum, a celebration of America’s pastime as well as a commentary on the legacy of the color barrier and discrimination in sports.The three artists featured in the exhibit are Norman Rockwell, Douglas Tilden, and Jacob Lawrence, who each bring a different perspective to the game. Tilden’s sculpture, from which the exhibit takes its title, perfectly captures a moment in time; you can practically feel the breeze blowing through the field as the player prepares to bat. Rockwell’s painting The Dugout comically shows the reactions of the disappointed Cubs fans whose team was having a bad season, something any Mariners fan can relate to. I’ve always been a Rockwell fanatic, so it was wonderful to finally see a painting of his live.The Dugout, Norman Rockwell, 1948. However, the works that were most fascinating to me were Jacob Lawrence’s two paintings, Strike and The Long Stretch. His paintings are pretty abstract, a wild departure from Rockwell’s and Tilden’s more realistic works. At first glance, they look like a simple expression of the motion and agility in the sport, which they do brilliantly. But look a little closer and you’ll see Lawrence’s observations on the state of racial equality in the major leagues of the 1940s.The Long Stretch, Jacob Lawrence, 1949. Courtesy of Seattle Art Museum.Although the three artists’ works are the focus of the exhibit, there are several other photographs and paintings to give a historical context to the art and tell the story more fully. There are pictures of teams that were integrated as early as the 1880s (until the infamous Gentlemen’s Agreement that segregated baseball until 1947) as well as women’s teams, known as “Bloomer Girls,” who were playing a whole generation before Title IX.Our National Game not only features the work of extremely talented artists, it’s also a great education in an important milestone in the nation’s history. The artwork and historical documents are a powerful visual history of the sport that unites our country.Our National GameThrough November 27Seattle Art Museum

Review of Rocky Horror Picture Show @ ArtsWest by Dana F.ArtsWest’s Musical Theater Apprenticeship Program’s performance hits you with the sense-shocking bang that only The Rocky Horror Show can. Complemented by an impressively minimalist set, the show’s wacky antics are allowed to shine brightly, absorbing the audience’s whole focus.

Photo by Michael BrunkThe young actors bring a boatload of fresh spark and energy to the cult classic tale, as well as a colossal amount of talent. Vocal performances by Becca Orts (playing Janet Weiss) and Ryan Floresca (playing Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter), as well as the rest of the cast, did more than simply live up to the time-honored tunes, and I found myself wishing I had the soundtrack to take home and listen to again. The cast demonstrated a powerful love of and commitment to the show, throwing themselves into character with a vengeance.

Photo by Michael BrunkThe show did seem to have some difficulty, however, in deciding what it wanted to be. Costumes and staging frequently deviated from the ever-popular film version of Rocky Horror, giving the performance its own unique identity. At the same time, audience participation lines customarily shouted in movie theaters were incorporated into the ArtsWest script, inserted by various members of the ensemble cast. These additions proved distracting and more than a little confusing, and I would imagine especially to those in the audience less familiar with the Rocky Horror story, who might feel as if there’s a joke they’re just not getting. They also elevated the traditionally mature content to a more extreme level, bordering on obscene.But while this show is not for the faint of heart or the unaware Rocky Horror “virgin”, it will thrill die-hard fans with its talented cast, surging energy, and commitment to anything and everything Rocky.Rocky Horror Picture ShowCLOSEDComing up next at ArtsWest: Amy's View

Xanadu @ Three Dollar Bill CinemaWhen a broke artist named Sonny Malone returned to his job creating album cover art, he never expected that one of his creations would come to life. A beautiful woman by the name of Kira (bearing uncanny resemblance to the woman from his painting) unexpectedly appears to Sonny, kissing him and disappearing just as quickly as she came. Sonny becomes obsessed with finding her and along the way meets an ex-big band leader who has also lost inspiration. Kira appears yet again and encourages the men to start a business together--a nightclub that features a roller skating rink called "Xanadu".Three Dollar Bill Cinema gives us the muses, mischief and mayhem that isXanadu at Cal Anderson Park (for FREE!) If you like big hair and 80's kitsch, this movie is perfect for you!Xanadu: where time stops and the magic never ends!XanaduFriday, July 29Three Dollar Bill Cinema

Review of Into Eternity @ NW Film Forum by Samantha V.The topic of nuclear waste is complicated. With the threat of things like earthquakes, the way that nuclear waste is handled now is not at all safe in the long term.Into Eternity is a documentary that looks at how the country of Finland plans to deal with its nuclear waste, and how they will keep it safe from contamination in the near future and into the distant future. This film has a strong Sci-Fi feel and also acts as a message to the future, helping to communicate the fact that this issue is not just ours, it's also the issue of our great-great-great grand children and beyond.The Finnish government's answer to this issue is Onkalo, an underground repository for nuclear waste - a place you should always “Remember to forget”. When talking about what future generations might make of Onkalo, it's clear that there are “Things that you know that you don't know, and things that you don't know that you don't know”. It is unnerving to think what that statement might mean further down the road. Like if future humans mistook Onkalo for a tomb, and were accidentally exposed to the radioactivity upon opening it. Or worse. I believe that that is one of the things that this documentary was supposed to do...put you on the edge of your seat and in doing so, really get you to think about things like this.There were a few things that I did find odd about this film. One was that there was a point near the middle where I thought that it was over (it wasn't), and two, that it seemed to drag a bit near the end. On a good note, the audio was at times very intense, and yet it didn't take away from the film at all. This documentary sheds a new, if not a kind of creepy light on the extremely sensitive subject of nuclear waste. I know that I'll tell my grandchildren to keep away from Onkalo. Will you?Into EternityThrough July 28Northwest Film Forum

Review of Beauty and Bounty @ Seattle Art Museum by Bethany B. Many different art exhibits travel through Seattle Art Museum. Some pieces take creativity of thought to invent and discover. A modern artist may only be able to draw a stick figure, but their brain has no boundaries or limits, and they can invent masterpieces. In the case of Beauty and Bounty, these artists have both creative minds and intricate talented hands. The pieces you see have the most stunning display and tiniest details.

Relive (or, y'know, live for the first time) the magic as the Teeny Awards Delivery Squad surprises the winners of the 2011 Teeny Awards!Thank you to our incredible, tireless delivery squad, Aeon, Megan, and Ivy, and to our choreographers, Laura and Christy.See you next year!For a full list of Teeny Award winners and runners-up, go here.

Yay! It's here! It's the moment we've all been waiting for, when we reveal the winners of the Most Prestigious Arts Awards in Seattle TM: The Teeny Awards!All day long, we've been surprising the winning organizations, busting up boring meetings and rehearsals with an incredible cheer and dance routine, choreographed by Christy McNeil, and performed by the AMAZING Teeny Awards Delivery Squad, Megan, Ivy, and Aeon. Video is forthcoming, but, for now, please enjoy these results and photos. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts to ALL of our participating organizations for making us feel so welcome all year 'round.Category: Best Date VenueWinner: Seattle Art Museum1st Runner-up: Pacific Northwest Ballet2nd Runner-up: three way tie between SIFF, Seattle Opera, and EMP MuseumCategory: Best Seats in the HouseWinner: Seattle Symphony1st Runner-up: Pacific Northwest Ballet2nd Runner-up: ACT TheatreCategory: Best Box Office ExperienceWinner: Pacific Northwest Ballet1st Runner-up: Seattle Art Museum2nd Runner-up: three-way tie between Seattle Children's Theatre, Taproot Theatre, and ACT TheatreCategory: Best BathroomsWinner: McCaw Hall, home of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera1st Runner-up: Seattle Art Museum2nd Runner-up: Benaroya Hall, home of Seattle SymphonyCategory: Best Group VenueWinner: Pacific Science Center's IMAX & Laser Dome1st Runner-up: EMP Museum2nd Runner-up: Unexpected ProductionsCategory: Venue I Want to Attend MoreWinner: ACT Theatre1st Runner-up: Book-It Repertory Theatre2nd Runner-up: Henry Art GalleryCategory: Favorite Organization, LargeWinner: Pacific Northwest Ballet1st Runner-up: Seattle Art Museum2nd Runner-up: Seattle SymphonyCategory: Favorite Organization, MediumWinner: Seattle Shakespeare Company1st Runner-up: Book-It Repertory Theatre2nd Runner-up: tie between Spectrum Dance Theatre and Taproot TheatreCategory: Favorite Organization, SmallWinner: Seattle Musical Theatre1st Runner-up: Unexpected Productions2nd Runner-up: Young Americans' Theatre CompanyCategory: Best Film OrganizationWinner: SIFF1st Runner-up: Pacific Science Center's IMAX2nd Runner-up: NFFTY, the National Film Festival for Talented YouthCategory: Best Museum or Art GalleryWinner: Seattle Art Museum1st Runner-up: EMP Museum2nd Runner-up: Henry Art GalleryCategory: Best Performing Arts OrganizationWinner: Seattle Repertory Theatre1st Runner-up: Seattle Symphony2nd Runner-up: Book-It Repertory TheatreCategory: Best Multi-Disciplinary OrganizationWinner: Seattle Arts & Lectures1st Runner-up: Cornish College of the Arts2nd Runner-up: On the BoardsCategory: Best Art ExhibitWinner: Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth at Seattle Art Museum1st Runner-up: Battlestar Gallactica, The Exhibit at EMP Museum2nd Runner-up: Shadows of a Fleeting World at Henry Art GalleryCategory: Best Dance PerformanceWinner: A Midsummer Night's Dream at Pacific Northwest Ballet1st Runner-up: All Tharp at Pacific Northwest Ballet2nd Runner-up: Cornish Dance Theater Spring 2010 Concert at Cornish College of the ArtsCategory: Best PlayWinner: Hamlet at Seattle Shakespeare Company1st Runner-up: Of Mice and Men at Seattle Repertory Theatre2nd Runner-up: A Doctor in Spite of Himself at Intiman TheatreCategory: Best Musical or OperaWinner: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog at Balagan Theatre1st Runner-up: Chicago at Seattle Musical Theatre2nd Runner-up: The Magic Flute at Seattle OperaCategory: Best Film or Film EventWinner: Willy Wonka in Smell-o-Vision at SIFF Cinema1st Runner-up: NFFTY, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth2nd Runner-up: Louder Than a Bomb at SIFF CinemaCategory: Best Music PerformanceWinner: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue at Seattle Symphony1st Runner-up: SoundOff! 2011 at EMP Museum2nd Runner-up: The Music Man in 60 Minutes at Seattle SymphonyCategory: Best "Other" ShowWinner: TheatreSports at Unexpected Productions1st Runner-up: Laser Nirvana at Seattle Laser Dome2nd Runner-up: Joyce Carol Oates at Seattle Arts & LecturesAnd, last but not least, our CRUSH OF THE YEAR, Spectrum Dance Theater's Amber Mayberry!

Our National Game @ Seattle Art MuseumOur National Game (The Ball Player), Douglas TildenTake me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd! Presenting the work of three distinct artists (Douglas Tilden, Norman Rockwell and Jacob Lawrence) Our National Game takes us back through time to baseball's golden age: a simpler time when a box of cracker jacks and a glove were the only things you needed for a great afternoon at the ballpark. Seattle Art Museum's newest exhibit reminds us that anyone can be a hero through agility and sport, and ultimately how baseball itself helped aid America's recovery from the world-shaking events of the 1940's.Our National GameThrough November 27Seattle Art Museum<?xml:namespace prefix = fb />

I'm one of the actors in Taproot's SOMETHING'S AFOOT. And, yes, there is, indeed, a live band under the stage for this production!

Review of Something's Afoot at Taproot Theatre by Katie M. Taproot Theatre is continuing their 35th anniversary season with a fantastic production. Something’s Afoot can best be described as a murder mystery musical filled with quirky characters and lively songs. The play is set in the 1930s, and the sets and costumes reflect that time period. Lord Rancour’s lakeside estate is well furnished by scenic designer Mark Lund, providing a great backdrop for the story.

Review of Passione: A Musical Adventure at NW Film Forum by Sandrine G. A parade of dangerous-looking, sun-baked women strut and sing their way through the musical pieces like the subjects of a string of internet videos whose links are clicked more through compulsion than desire. Accompanied by their impetuous lovers and neighbors, their dramatic flare demands all the attention of a peoples’ opera. Eminently entertaining, Passione nevertheless belongs less to film than to the music which it claims to illuminate. Although the movie is beautifully shot, its director John Turturro is often self-indulgent. He inserts himself into several dance numbers. He also appears throughout the film as a narrator and pretends to offer a profound analysis of Neapolitan culture that goes deeper than sentimental nostalgia while spewing clichéd nothings like some places you can go to only once; then there’s Napoli. That being said, Passione is cultural pornography in the best sense of the phrase. The sea and the sky are a gorgeous Mediterranean blue, each scrap of colorful graffiti becomes brilliant folk art under the gaze of the camera, and the array of cultural components to the rhythm of Neapolitan life is as splendid as the natural beauty of the sun-drenched Italian city. The fusion of cultures is astounding, from flamenco-like dancing originating on the Iberian Peninsula to the wailing, chanting North African and Middle Eastern musical elements to the hints of American pop culture that were all brought to Napoli’s shores along with the anguish of occupation. The tragedy of poverty and the risks of making homes under the shadow of volcanic Mount Vesuvius are both material for the powerful song and spontaneous lifestyle of Neapolitans. The only problem is that all this is already apparent in the trailer and becomes fully actualized in the music. Though beautiful, the film itself offers little context and less explanation. The soundtrack of Passione can be found on the internet and is selling at the North West Film Forum, the same place the movie is showing, and costs $20. This is slightly more than the cost of two general admission tickets but, unlike watching the movie at the theater, the CD can be enjoyed over and over again. Passione: A Musical Adventure NW Film Forum Through Thursday, July 21

David Herbert and the Mystery of the Holy Mountain @ Henry Art Gallery

David Herbert. Holy Mountain. Courtesy of the artist and Postmasters Gallery, New York.An ingenious and strange new exhibit is coming to the neighborhood. Using ordinary materials such as PVC pipe, Styrofoam, and Scotch tape, Seattle native David Herbert will build a recreation of Mount Rainier atop the heavy artillery alien spaceship from the popular film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Join Herbert in a two-week open studio at Henry Art Gallery and see the madness for yourself!David Herbert and the Mystery of the Holy MountainThrough October 16thHenry Art Gallery

Teen Tix member Summer H. is the winner of the $50 Amazon.com gift card for voting in the 2011 Teeny Awards!Here's a little bit about Summer:She just graduated from Shorewood High School, and she's headed to Loyola University in Chicago this fall, where she plans to major in Theatre. A lifelong Seattleite, she loves theatre, singing, violin, skiing, reading, and playing with her dog. She's been a Teen Tix member for four years.Here are some of Summer's Teeny Awards picks:BEST BOX OFFICE EXPERIENCE: Young Americans' Theatre CompanyBEST BATHROOMS: Seattle SymphonyBEST DATE VENUE: Unexpected ProductionsFAVORITE ORGANIZATION (large): Intiman TheatreFAVORITE ORGANIZATION (medium): Book-It Repertory TheatreFAVORITE ORGANIZATION (small): Driftwood PlayersBEST ART EXHIBIT: Kurt Cobain/Andy Warhol at Seattle Art MuseumBEST FILM EVENT: NFFTY (The National Film Festival for Talented Youth)BEST "OTHER" SHOW: TheatreSportsWill Summer's picks prevail? Stay tuned to the blog for announcements and updates on our super secret surprise awards ceremony.Thanks for voting, Summer!The Teeny Awards are given annually by the Teen Tix Steering Committee. They honor our members' picks for the best in local arts, and they recognize those arts organizations that have done a particularly good job of welcoming teen patrons over the past year. For more info on the Teeny Awards, go here.

What's up TeenTixers, I have to make it brief as I'm departing for The Great White North, but I just heard about this and wanted to share!!!! Alex Prior is an amazing composer and conductor with whom I've had the pleasure of watching several times in performance. He's an amazing teen and we should all get out and support him!Here's an article by Michael Kysar wonderfully explaining Alex, his life, and what he's doing. "Alex Prior is the principle conductor for the annual Northwest Mahler Festival to be held on July 17th in Benaroya Hall in Seattle. He received two master degrees in conducting and in composition from St. Petersburg Conservatory at the age of 16. He conducted the Mahler 4th Symphony with Seattle Symphony Orchestra last year. He is now 18 years old and has recently conducted orchestras in Denmark and Germany.YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alex+prior&aq=0&oq=Alex+Prior) has lots of examples of his work, including interviews.Young performers are invited to ask questions and get to know this extraordinary young musician. I’ve had numerous conversations with him, and he is funny, incredibly enthusiastic, and an amazing musician."Details:- Location: The Microsoft Store Bellevue Square116 Bellevue SquareBellevue, WA, 98004See it on Bing Maps! (http://www.bing.com/maps/?ss=ypid.YN925x182844282&vm=BingMapsTeam-BellevueSquare&i=1)- Date and Time: Saturday, July 9th, 5:30 pm to about 6:30 pm (Yes, it is this coming Saturday!)- Other:• The best bet is to park in the West Parking Garage and enter the mall therethat’s the garage west of Nordstrom across from QFC on NE 8th Street.• If you park in the West Garage, you should enter the mall on the ground level.Red Mango will be immediately on your right, and you’ll see the Microsoft Store directly ahead.There is no charge for this event, but seating space is limited.Sally forth TeenTixers!!! Show this amazing up and coming artist how supportive we are!!! Besides, IT'S FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review of The Talent Show at Henry Art Gallery by Chloe L.

Review of Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World at ACT Theatre by Emma M.Shanga Parker as Musa and Carol Roscoe as SheriPhoto by Chris Bennion You stumble into A Contemporary Theatre—better known as ACT. As you take your seat and scope out the round cozy playing space, you wonder what awaits you in the next hour. The answer: delight. Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World takes you on a wonderfully witty ride into the lives of these mixed-up lovers. “The course of true love never did run smooth,” so Sheri and Musa find out when they embark on a relationship and run into several hilarious and perilous problems along the way. You’re probably jumping up and down in your seat (or at least you should be) asking “what problems?!” Discovering is half the fun, so you’re just going to have to be surprised!The brand new play is written by Yussef El Guindi. Pilgrims deals with important themes, like what does it mean to be an immigrant or a pilgrim?, and what do people want out of relationships? El Guindi approaches his topics with an unabashed sincerity and cutting wit. However, by the end of the play El Guindi’s message that we are all “pilgrims” on the circle of life becomes very clear. In fact, it's a bit bash-you-over-the-head, I-was-trying-to-make-a-point-and-in-case- you-didn’t-get-it...here-it-is! clear. Yes, yes we got the point. Trust me we didn’t fall asleep, it’s much too good a play for that! El Guindi undermines the cleverness of his own play because up until that point it has been based on the subtlety of his humor and wisdom.The clever wit is taken to the next level when you add all the talented acting. Starring as Sheri, Carol Roscoe, it can be safely said, steals the show. The over-talkative, relationship troubled, spunky waitress Roscoe portrays is brought to life by her exuberant energy.Anthony Leroy Fuller as AbdallahPhoto by Chris BennionAlso worth mentioning are Anthony Leroy Fuller as Abdallah and Sylvester Foday Kamara as Tayyin. Both play their respective characters with an intense and clear understanding, which makes the difficult characters much easier to understand.With the exception of the awkward writing at the end of the play, Pilgrims is a funny and engaging play, transformed into stellar performance by the whole company. A sparkling tale of true love and new journeys, Pilgrims is the play to see this summer.Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New WorldThrough July 17ACT TheatreNOTE: contains brief nudity and adult language

Review of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony at Seattle Symphony by Fanny L.The setting of Benaroya Hall Tuesday night was certainly a departure from my usual experience at the concert hall; a certain energy pervaded the scene now comprised of what I can only assume were mostly video game enthusiasts. Upon the introduction and entrance of principal conductor Andy Brick, it was made all the more clear how unique a symphony experience this was going to be. He was met with uproarious applause; as has been described before, it was fit for a rock star.PLAY! began with a world-premiere arrangement of the Super Mario Brothers theme (one of the few themes I recognized!) accompanied with a montage of game play from the series. The juxtaposition of a medium born of technology with such classical instrumentation was extremely refreshing and eye(ear)-opening. As neither an expert in symphonic music nor video games, I was greatly entertained by arrangement after arrangement even though I was not familiar with many of them. Of course, I was in the minority in that I felt like I was surrounded by video game fans; however, it was difficult not share their enthusiasm as familiar melodies were played. Had it not been for this audience zeal and the visual cues of the video montages, I would’ve certainly felt I was watching yet another typical symphony performance.However, as the evening progressed, I really grew to appreciate the medium of video game as a cinematic experience and the impressiveness of symphonic music. When viewed with the live symphony, the emotions and stories depicted in the video games displayed became all the more intense. I was also struck by the crowd’s enthusiasm and the surprising presence of Halo composer Martin O’Donnell only a few rows away from my own seat, which really added to the feeling of the whole experience being one made for the fans. It was a surprisingly intimate occasion for such a large venue and crowd. All in all, PLAY! was a wonderful introduction to classical music through video games, and vice versa; an informative, inspiring and entertaining experience melding the wonders of technology and the beauty of symphony music.PLAY! is closedNext up at Seattle Symphony, more symphonic/cinematic experiences with Casablanca and the Wizard of Oz, July 6 - 9More info at seattlesymphony.org

Review of Carmina Burana at Seattle Symphony by Tavis H.

Intense: a word used so often but understood so little. There are many words which have been overused into meaninglessness and though “intense” certainly falls under that category of words, it is truly the only way to describe the grandeur and brilliance of the Carmina Burana.

With this in mind, all I can say is that The Seattle Symphony has does it once again. In my fourth opportunity to see the Carmina Burana at SSO I have for a fourth time been blown away. The Carmina Burana, in its first manifestation, is a collection of medieval poetry mostly in Latin and Old German compiled in the 13th century. In modernity, Carl Orff used a selection of the poetry in order to inspire and accompany a rich and powerful piece which he too titled The Carmina Burana. With the blasting, ominous roar of the infamous opening piece “O’ Fortuna” to playful melodies and romantic movements, the Carmina Burana is most certainly Orff’s magnum opus and a broad swath of intriguing and entertaining composition.Though Carl Orff certainly gets a big tip of the hat, the standing ovation has to to Seattle Symphony. Too often a good piece of can be ruined by a bad interpretation, fortunately for us conductor Alexander Shelley delivers a fantastic performance with both zest and composure in leading the top notch performers of the Symphony and Chorale. Soprano Christina Siemens also deserves much commendation for the smooth and intense beauty of her singing, as do Baritone Michael Anthony McGee, and tenor Paul Karaitis for their exceptional and accessible interpretations. At the end of the day, the Carmina Burana conveys many different emotions throughout its poetic structure and having soloists with the capacity to show us, through the language barrier, what they are saying is a wonderful gift and the sign of a truly professional singer.

Together with such a tight ensemble, the Seattle Symphony has beautifully executed a complex piece. From the balance of the intensity of the music, instrumental sections, the radiance of the voices, and the uniqueness of the performances, it is safe to say the Carmina Burana is a Hollywood knock-out of a piece and is bound to please anyone, old or young, looking for a great night out.Carmina Burana is closed.Next up at Seattle Symphony: Casablanca and the Wizard of Oz.More info at seattlesymphony.org