We are excited to present a truly monumental program, featuring Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana as the centerpiece, performed with a harmony orchestra, an ensemble of over 100 singers, including a children’s choir, three soloists, and a unique instrumental setup that includes two grand pianos and a celesta.
The evening opens with Alfred Reed’s Canto e Candombe, a piece that vividly captures the rhythms and melodies of Brazilian folk music. Its energetic percussion and flowing harmonies offer an engaging introduction to the evening’s performance.
The highlight of the program, Orff’s Carmina Burana, is a large-scale cantata based on 24 medieval poems from the Carmina Burana manuscript. Orff’s setting brings these texts to life through a combination of dramatic choral writing and evocative orchestration. Themes of fate, fortune, nature, and desire are explored in bold, rhythmic movements, with the famous "O Fortuna" serving as the work's bookend.
Our performance will feature the full power of a large choir, alongside a children's choir that adds innocence and contrast to the work’s darker, more dramatic movements. Three exceptional soloists will take on the challenging vocal parts, guiding the audience through the narrative of shifting fortunes, joy, and heartbreak. The combination of two grand pianos and a celesta adds a rich, percussive layer to the orchestral texture, amplifying the intensity and dynamism of the score. Three exceptional soloists will take on the challenging vocal parts, guiding the audience through the narrative of shifting fortunes, joy, and heartbreak. The combination of two grand pianos and a celesta adds a rich, percussive layer to the orchestral texture, amplifying the intensity and dynamism of the score.
Carmina Burana is a powerful work that challenges both performers and listeners with its emotional depth and musical complexity. The interaction of choir, soloists, and instrumental forces promises a compelling and immersive experience, making this concert an extraordinary exploration of human nature and fate. We invite you to join us for an evening of musical storytelling at its finest, where rhythm, voice, and orchestral brilliance come together in a truly unforgettable performance.