Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Orff's Carmina Burana (2023)

Choral Singing / Choral Music

Carl Orff's CARMINA BURANA presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Date: Saturday 9 September 2023 at 2pm
Venue: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

 

Carmina Burana is a cantata composed in 1935 and 1936 by Carl Orff, based on poems from the medieval collection "Carmina Burana". Its full Latin title is Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanae cantoribus et choris cantandae comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis. Its first performance was 8 June, 1937, at Oper Frankfurt.  

Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana is the blockbuster of the choral repertoire, the kind of music guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Its worldly – and occasionally naughty – texts were assembled by mediæval monks, but its flamboyant music is barely a century old. From the rousing chorus of “O Fortuna!” to the intrepid tenor (the inimitable Kanen Breen) voicing a roasting swan at the top of his range, Carmina Burana will take you on an exhilarating and often visceral journey through the rhythms of life.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs are also thrilled to present the concert premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin’s Human Waves. With words by fellow-pianist Tamara-Anna Cislowska, it charts stories of struggle and success from the rich tapestry of Australia’s migrant history, finding inspiration in the diversity of cultures and traditions that make up our society.

Murrgumurrgu, by First Nations artist James Henry, takes its title from the Yuwaalaraay name for the ibis, which breeds on the Narran Lakes before coming to Sydney to find food.

The best-known song from Carmina Burana is “O Fortuna” (“Oh Fortune”), which serves as both prologue and epilogue. It frames the revelry of the three main movements with a stark warning about the power of luck and fate, offering the ancient image of a wheel of fortune that deals out triumph and disaster at random.

PROGRAM

HENRY Murrgumurrgu (Ibis)*†
KATS-CHERNIN Human Waves*†
ORFF Carmina Burana

* Concert premiere
† From 100 Minutes of New Australian Music Project

This program will run for approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor
James Henry singer & composer
Lorina Gore soprano
Kanen Breen tenor
Hadleigh Adams baritone
Festival Chorus
River City Voices
Tamara-Anna Cislowska piano & librettist (Human Waves)
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Come to the Northern Foyer from 1pm to hear SPC Chorister and 2MBS Fine Music presenter Peter Poole chat with Human Waves librettist Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Murrgumurrgu composer James Henry. Grab a drink at the bar and enjoy this free, 30-minute talk, with plenty of time to find your seat for the 2pm concert.

Seating is on the carpeted stairs in the Northern Foyer.
Access the Northern Foyer via the new tunnel from the Southern Foyer.

• Saturday 9 September: 1:15PM-1:45PM
• Concert Hall, Northern Foyer stairs

 

2023 Pre-Concert Talks are made possible with the support of 2MBS Fine Music.

Reviews: 

Carmina Burana (Sydney Philharmonia Choirs). 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟Limelight Magazine. Accessed September 11, 2023.

Carmina Burana-Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Orchestra. Reviewed by Shirley Politzer. JWire.com.au. Accessed September 13, 2023.

SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA CHOIRS : CARMINA BURANA @SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE. 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Sydney Arts Guide. Reviewed by Paul Nolan.  Accessed September 13, 2023.

 

 

 

Related Links:

Carl Orff. Inspired Pen Web. 

Carmina Burana (Orff). en.wikipedia.org. Accessed July 10, 2023.

Carl Orff - O Fortuna ~ Carmina Burana. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Robert Shaw. Artwork: Irudiak - Joseph Mallord William Turner. YouTube, uploaded by Beatriz. Accessed July 10, 2023.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Carl Off's Carmina Burana 2021. Inspired Pen Web.

Video Credit:

Carmina Burana 2023 Version 2. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.  O Fortuna! Carl Orff’s 'Carmina Burana' is the blockbuster of the choral world, the kind of music that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its rousing choruses and wicked humour. Elena Kats-Chernin’s 'Human Waves' offers something completely new from one of Australia’s most popular composers, inspired by the rich tapestry of our migrant history. And Yuwaalaraay compsoer James Henry paints a fond portrait of the ibis in 'Murrgumurrgu'.  YouTube, accessed August 10, 2023.

Resources:

Orff's Carmina Burana. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed July 10, 2023  (Available at this time)

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' 2023 Season Catalogue. 

 

TICKETS

Premium $129 | A $105 | B $85 | C $60 | D $45
Concessions $116 | A $92| B $75 | C $55 | D $41
Under 30 $30
A booking fee of $8.95 per transaction applies.

BOOK TICKETS HERE

COVID-19 SAFETY AT SPC CONCERTS

Up-to-date COVID guidelines will be available a few weeks before the concert. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs regularly update their guidelines based on health directives from NSW Government & the Sydney Opera House. 

 

(c) July 10, 2023. Tel.  Inspired Pen Web.  All rights reserved.