From our friends at the Choral Arts Society of Washington, DC...
Carmina Burana: The Cantata That Conquered the World
Wednesday, May 6, 2015, 7:00 pm
Evening Lecture with Live Performance - Presented by The Smithsonian Associates
Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian
$20 Smithsonian Associates Members, $25 Non-Members
smithsonianassociates.org or (202) 633-3030
When Carl Orff (1895–1982) premiered his scenic cantata Carmina Burana in 1936, he surely never imagined that its opening strain "O Fortuna" would be the most-often quoted classical music theme in American popular culture. Nor did he probably anticipate that it would become one of the most frequently programmed works in concert halls around the world. Join Scott Tucker as he explores the musical structure, text, and cultural history of this beloved work and the motivations of its enigmatic composer. Musical examples are provided by recordings and live performances.
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| Scott Tucker, Artistic Director - Choral Arts |
Carmina Burana: Community Sing-In
Saturday, May 16, 2015, 4:00 pm
The Falls Church Episcopal
115 East Fairfax Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
$10 per person, $2 score rental
Choralarts.org or (202) 244-3669
Sing excerpts from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with members of the Choral Arts Chorus followed by a gathering and light reception in the fellowship hall. A limited number of scores are available to rent, please reserve your ticket and score in advance.
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Sunday, May 17, 2015, 8:00 pm
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Scott Tucker, conductor
Jacqueline Echols, soprano *
Rexford Tester, tenor *
Trevor Scheunemann, baritone **
Choral Arts Chorus
Boy and Girl Choristers of Washington National Cathedral
* Current member of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
** Alumnus of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
This concert is made possible by a generous gift from Anne B. Keiser and by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Sister Cities International Grant.
Tickets range from $15-$75 and are available through Choral Arts (www.choralarts.org or (202) 244-3669) or through the Kennedy Center (www.kennedy-center.org or (202) 467-4600.)
The down beat of the percussion: The sinister sounds of the singers proclaiming "O Fortuna." This is familiar: This is Carmina Burana. In fact, it is only the first and last movements of the 24-movement masterpiece with which popular culture has whetted our musical appetites. Based on a collection of songs and poems of love's nuances, Carmina Burana sings of innocence, then lust; flirtation, later passion; and it mocks and then moralizes. This dramatic score features a large orchestra which is rhythmically rich and showcases extreme demands of soloists and chorus. Carmina Burana is a favorite for both the novice and the aficionado.
The mission of Choral Arts is the pursuit of excellence in choral repertoire and performance, and the commitment to promote and share the art of choral music through education and public outreach.
The purpose of Choral Arts is to share the art of choral music through public performance, community outreach, and education initiatives. Committed to reach new and diverse audiences, especially the young, Choral Arts is dedicated to the live presentation of both new and classical choral masterworks in the Washington metro area while approaching new audiences nationally and internationally through tours, recordings, and electronic media.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Scott Tucker, Choral Arts, now in its 50th season, has sung with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, recorded seventeen acclaimed CDs, and has a twenty year history of excellence in arts education programming. In addition to its annual subscription series, based in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and other DC-area venues, Choral Arts maintains Award-Winning Education and Community Outreach programs and established the Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., now celebrating its 27th year.
