Carl Orff. “Carmina Burana"

On April 16, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted a performance of one of the most epic and captivating masterpieces of world classical music — Carl Orff’s scenic cantata Carmina Burana, performed by the State Kremlin Orchestra and the A.A. Yurlov State Academic Choral Capella of Russia.

This monumental masterpiece by the great German composer was performed by soloists David Sanikidze (tenor), Andrzej Beletsky (baritone), and Darya Zykova (soprano). Taking the conductor’s podium that evening was one of Russia’s most sought-after conductors, Konstantin Chudovsky.

The medieval Latin texts, combined with Orff’s brilliant music, have made Carmina Burana a true cultural bestseller, striking audiences time and again with its immense and extraordinary power.

The primal magic of the recurring rhythms in the opening chorus, “O Fortuna,” dedicated to the capricious will of the goddess of fate, is familiar even to the most uninitiated listener. The monumental opening passages of the cantata have become deeply embedded in popular culture, widely featured in international cinema and advertising, as well as at sporting events and spectacular large-scale shows.