More than 200 musicians and singers — including the Cal Poly Symphony and Choirs assisted by three professional soloists and the Central Coast Children’s Choir — will perform Carl Orff’s masterpiece ‘Carmina Burana’ at the Cohan Center at 8 p. m. on May 31 at the Cohan Center.
From the first thundering chords of “O Fortuna,” it’s hard to mistake “Carmina Burana.”
First performed in 1937, Carl Orff’s masterpiece has become a favorite among classical music fans.
Snatches of the rhythmic, passionate work can be heard in commercials or during dramatic movie moments. If fact, parts of “Carmina Burana” pop up in about 20 sound-tracks, from “Speed” to “Cheaper by the Dozen.”
“If there is a moment in the movie where there is a classic reference, it seems that it’s ‘Carmina Burana’ or it’s ‘Dies irae’ from the Verdi ‘Requiem,’ ” said Cal Poly music professor Thomas Davies, who conducts three choirs at the school. “It’s just so powerful.”
More than 200 musicians and singers take the stage May 31 to perform “Carmina Burana” at the Cohan Center.
The Cal Poly Symphony and Choirs will be joined by three professional soloists and the Central Coast Children’s Choir. Davies and symphony conductor David Arrivée will share the podium.
“It’s just a not-to-be-missed piece of music,” said soloist Mary Sue Gee. “Everybody loves it because it’s so accessible.”
Rooting in 13th century
Sung in Latin, German and French, “Carmina Burana” takes its text from a 13th-century collection of satirical moral poems, love songs, drinking songs and salutations to spring.
The ideas are ancient, the lyrics poetic and frequently bawdy. And the cast of characters — including tender lovers and libertines—would be familiar to any medieval audience.
Orff’s cantata begins and closes with “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (Fortune, Empress of the World),” which illustrates the constant ups and downs of life.
“The emotions are so clearly etched,” said Arrivée, especially in the case of the drinking songs. “They have that rhythmic energy and that vitality and change and craziness.”
According to soprano Mary Sue Gee of Los Osos, “Carmina Burana” gives everyone a chance to shine.
Gee, who will be joined by Los Angeles tenor Jonathan Mack and Santa Barbara baritone Emil Cristescu, will tackle the section known as “Cour d’amours,” or “The Court of Love.”
“I get to sing probably the prettiest piece in the number,” said the soprano, noting that that section requires an exceptionally high, seasoned voice. “It’s just such a beautiful, peaceful lullaby. It’s real sweet and simple.”
Mack, a frequent Cal Poly collaborator, will lend his voice to an audience favorite from the “In Taberna” (“In the Tavern”) section: the dying swan who sings as he’s being roasted on a spit.
Although there are more challenging works in the classical music catalog, Davies said “Carmina Burana” requires strength, stamina and precision.
Cal Poly students—about 100 vocalists and 65 musicians— began rehearsing for the concert in April.
“It took a lot of doing to get all the different groups together,” Arrivée said. “The orchestra has to wear many hats. We go from in-your-face brass to really suave accompaniment to vocal soloists.”
Still, the assistant music professor added, “There are some pieces for orchestra that only the Berlin Philharmonic should play.”
“This piece is kind of the opposite,” Arrivée said. “If you get in the right groove, it sounds interesting almost instantly.”
One-of-a-kind sound
Both Davies and Arrivée said they’re striving to capture Orff’s unique sound for the concert. While the Cal Poly choirs have been practicing their medieval pronunciation, the symphony’s musicians are seeking to do the same with instruments.
“We’ve had discussions in the orchestra: ‘This really has to sound like a hurdy-gurdy with some ancient fife,’ ” Arrivée said. Percussion instruments— bass drums, cymbals, triangles, even pianos — take a front seat in the rhythmic work.
“(Orff) does an amazing job of making it sound musically primitive and mystical,” he said.
It’s that quality of “Carmina Burana” that the ensembles hope will draw large crowds to the Performing Arts Center.
“It almost has a cult following. People go around and if it’s being performed, they see it,” Davies said. “It’s fun, it’s lively…It has name recognition.”
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