In the Great Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie, the first powerful chords of “O Fortuna” ring out, and the audience immediately understands why Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” remains one of the most impressive and popular choral works of all time.
As part of the anniversary celebration “125 Years of the Berlin Choral Association,” this evening sees the creation of a major musical project that showcases the power and diversity of Berlin’s choral scene in a particularly striking way. The extraordinary range of the music is especially fascinating: powerful, almost fate-laden choral passages alternate with delicate, dance-like and humorous moments. The famous opening chorus, “O Fortuna,” provides the dramatic framework for a work that tells of the cycle of life – of rise and fall, longing, passion and the unpredictability of fate.

Together, the Konzertchor Schlachtensee, Berliner Oratorienchor, Berliner Konzert-Chor, Konzertchor Friedenau, Karl-Forster-Chor, Canzonetta Children’s and Youth Choir, and the Berlin Academic Orchestra bring this monumental work to the stage. Around 300 singers, together with a large orchestra, will fill the Philharmonie Hall with a sonic force that is at once archaic, exhilarating and deeply moving.

“Carmina Burana,” first performed in 1937, is based on medieval texts from a manuscript preserved at the Benediktbeuern Monastery. Carl Orff selected poems and songs about the changeable nature of fortune, love, the joy of life, spring, pleasure and transience. He did not create a romantic, subtle setting, but rather a work of immediate rhythmic energy and elemental expressive power. Few other choral works combine powerful choral scenes, compelling solos and distinctive orchestral colors with such directness.