Carl Orff. Carmina Burana

On April 4, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted a performance of one of the most epic and captivating works in the classical repertoire — Carl Orff’s scenic cantata Carmina Burana. The work was performed by the State Kremlin Orchestra and the Yurlov State Academic Choral Capella of Russia. One of Russia’s most sought-after young conductors, Konstantin Chudovsky, took the podium that evening.

The combination of a medieval Latin text and the composer’s brilliant music has made Carmina Burana a true bestseller, striking listeners time and again with its immense and extraordinary power. The primal magic of the repeating rhythms in the opening chorus “O Fortuna,” devoted to the capricious will of the goddess of fate, is familiar even to the most uninitiated listener. The grandiose opening sounds of the cantata have become deeply embedded in popular culture and are widely used in films and advertising, as well as during sporting events and spectacular large-scale shows.