The Torrevieja International Auditorium will host Carl Orff's monumental cantata "Carmina Burana" on March 28th.

The Municipal Institute of Culture “Joaquín Chapaprieta” has organized a performance of the famous scenic cantata “Carmina Burana” by German composer Carl Orff, which will take place on March 28th at the Torrevieja International Auditorium.

The presentation was given by the Councillor for Culture, Antonio Quesada; the coordinator of the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra (OST), Francisco Garres; the president of the Francisco Vallejos Choir, Belén Puente; the guest conductor, Armando Bernabéu; and the event coordinator, Manuel Esteban Moreno.

This cultural event will bring together on stage the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra (OST), three outstanding choral groups and a cast of top-level soloists, in a production specially designed to offer the public a brilliant and spectacular version of one of the most recognized works of the 20th century symphonic-choral repertoire.

“Carmina Burana,” composed in 1936 by Carl Orff and premiered a year later, is based on a collection of medieval poems written in Latin, German, and Old French, known as the Carmina Burana, discovered in a 13th-century manuscript in the Bavarian monastery of Benediktbeuern. The texts reflect various aspects of human life, from the vagaries of fortune to the celebration of love, pleasure, and nature.

The work is structured in three major thematic sections. The first of these, “O Fortuna,” one of the most celebrated choral pieces in classical music, opens and closes the cantata with a powerful reflection on the unpredictable nature of fortune and human destiny.

The second part, “In Taberna”, presents a series of songs set in medieval taverns, where the lyrics celebrate the enjoyment of life, wine and camaraderie with a lighthearted and satirical tone.

Finally, “Cour d'Amours” addresses the theme of love and desire, with poems that explore human emotions from an intense and deeply lyrical perspective.

Orff's music stands out for its great rhythmic force, its spectacular choral treatment and a powerful orchestration that combines elements inspired by medieval music with modern compositional resources, resulting in a work of enormous sonic and emotional impact.

EXTENSIVE CHORAL AND MUSICAL PARTICIPATION

The performance will feature a prominent artistic team comprised of renowned soloists and various musical ensembles.

The vocal cast will consist of soprano Rocío Martínez, baritone José Manuel Díaz and countertenor José Vicente Campello, who will perform the demanding solo parts of the work.

The choral section will feature the Torrevieja Municipal Choir School, directed by Selena Cancino, the Francisco Vallejos Choir, under the direction of Belén Puente, and the Voces Crevillentinas Choir, directed by Isabel Puig.

The musical direction of the work will be in charge of Maestro Armando Bernabéu, leading the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra, while the direction of the vocal ensemble will be in charge of Selena Cancino, coordinating the joint work of the participating choral groups.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES AND STAGE ELEMENTS

With the aim of facilitating a better understanding of the work for the public and enriching the musical experience, the organization has planned a series of complementary elements.

Thus, an hour before the start of the concert, an explanatory conference on “Carmina Burana” and its composer will be held in the auditorium hall, given by the artistic coordinator Pilar Páez.

During the performance, images related to the work and the Spanish translation of the original texts will be projected onto a screen located at the top of the stage, allowing the audience to follow the content of the medieval poems that make up the cantata.

The stage production will be complemented by a lighting design specially conceived to accompany the different parts of the work, reinforcing the dramatic and expressive character of each of its sections.

Furthermore, in order to enhance the sonic richness of the performance, the choirs will be distributed at the front and sides of the stage, generating a greater acoustic amplitude and an immersive experience for the audience.

The organization of this musical production is coordinated by Manuel Esteban Moreno, coordinator of Culture and the production of the event, along with Francisco Garres, coordinator of the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra, and Pilar Páez, artistic coordinator.