On the night of May 27, 2026, Buena High School presented their encore production of “The Divine Comedy”, a musically diverse performance put on by the honors wind ensemble, both strings classes and additional help from actors from the Drama Department. Even with it being an encore show, the audience was packed with supportive students, parents, board members and even musical directors from opposing schools – everyone wanted a chance to see and listen to the incredible show that was “the Divine Comedy.”
Opening at 7 p.m., the audience was quick to rush to their seats, eager to start listening to the music. As the lights dimmed, choir teacher and narrator Kevin Downey’s voice could be heard, booming like the voice of God, through the auditorium, officially starting the show.
Downey explained that this story started with Dante Alighieri, played by Cole Coyner, a man who recently lost his wife, Beatrice, played by Nayeli Garcia, and has since decided to take it upon himself to dive headfirst into the underworld to find her. On his first try to find her, he ends up in hell, which is when movement one takes place.
The first movement, “Inferno,” started with a beautifully clear and storytelling solo from sophomore Gillian Lee. In this story, Beatrice is in Heaven, but aware of her husband’s actions, and sends a ghost named Virgil to help him. Actors George Meier (Virgil) and Cole Coyner (Dante) begin the story center stage, during Lee’s solo, enveloped in white light as the orchestra behind them grew dark in red lighting before the initial strike of song.
Powerful crescendos from the orchestra and timpanies carried the movement, showing the depths of the fiery hell that is “Inferno,” and the frightening journey that Dante and Virgil take. Along with this, the full orchestra aided the music through voice and body, stomping, and even screaming on cue with the music, adding to the ambience of the song.
After this powerful, somewhat terrifying performance of the first movement, the story moved on to movement two, “Purgatorio.” This movement started softer than the prior, with a French horn solo from sophomore Nicholas Hirsh, followed by a flute solo from senior Stevie Fischetti and finally a soprano saxophone solo from senior Alejandro Portillo. This movement built tension through the audience, showing that even though our hero had escaped hell, he wasn’t fully in the clear yet.
Dante finds himself facing the task of cleaning himself of his sins in purgatory. A hard task to face, this is paired with soft music with an occasional crescendo, percussion hits, and groans of effort from the orchestra to get across the message of the story – Dante is climbing the stairs of Purgatory. Coyner treacherously treks across the stage, back and fourth, with great effort and the support of Meier’s character, Virgil, both putting on the performance of a lifetime.
Once Dante (Coyner) finally clears the stairs of Purgatory, the third movement begins: “Ascension.” Finally, we get a movement void of tension, suspension, or quick crescendos and accelerandos. It begins with a chime, and beautifully played long notes, to relay the relief that Dante experiences. This is when the lighting changed as well, going from harsh colors to a more beautiful teal.
At the end of “Ascension”, the pace speeds slightly, and the orchestra sings in accompaniment with the piece to create a beautiful choir aiding the storyline that Dante is now ascending to heaven, about to reunite with the love of his life.
Finally, we reach movement four through a narration break from Downey. The couple is ultimately united and sanctified through bell sounds from the orchestra as they find happiness in the afterlife. The bells are eventually joined again by the orchestra choir to create an angelic sounding noise and end the story.
Overall, this was one of, if not, the most impressive performance Buena has ever put forth, with lighting design, amazing musicians, fantastic actors, and an easy-to-follow storyline from Downey’s narration.
“Ending my last year doing this is probably the coolest way to end my senior year. I have never been a part of something quite like this before. It was really cool having everyone from strings, winds, and even the actors participating. It was an amazing farewell concert and way to go out,” senior trumpetist Elizabeth McGovern said.
