Oratorio: Orff – Carmina Burana

This event marks the 80th anniversary of the first performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. The music of this scenic cantata is known just as well for its accompaniment of the 1970s Old Spice advertisement (the octogenarian Orff must have been so proud!) as for its many appearances in concert halls around the world. The 11th-13th century poems are about wealth, eating, drinking, gambling, and lust – timeless subjects indeed. The virtuoso choir writing is complemented by three solo voices, all of whom push the envelope with their peculiarly high vocal ranges. And in this performance, the 1956 instrumentation will be used: authorized by the composer, in this version two pianos are joined by six percussionists. The sounds are raw and orgiastic; the percussive sound of the grand pianos is matched by six percussionists playing for all they’re worth: an electrifying soundworld that is both primitive and sophisticated at the same time.