Monday, May 10, 2010

Maestro Musings: 'Carmina Burana' still contemporary and exciting


O Fortune,
like the moon
you are changeable,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
first oppresses
and then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty
and power,
it melts them like ice.

-- Carmina Burana


The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's popular 2009-2010 season, entitled "Inspired by Nature" comes to an ecstatic conclusion in it's Grand Finale concerts on May 22-23. The centerpiece will be Carl Orff's timeless masterpiece, "Carmina Burana," which has reached far into popular culture, making it into the soundtracks for the films "Excalibur," "The Hunt for Red October," and "The General's Daughter." It has also been used by many pop musicians, including Michael Jackson.

Just what is the appeal of "Carmina Burana"? The poetry deals with timeless subjects of life, love and loss. Although written in thirteenth century Latin it has a surprisingly modern sensibility. The Latin language gives the poetry an extra punch and is ultra-expressive and descriptive ... sometimes shockingly so.

But it is the music -- the unforgettable rhythms, pounding and hypnotic -- that gets under your skin and makes your hairs stand on end. The music sounds contemporary and relevant. Even hip-hop music seems to pale in comparison to the primitive and expressive power of Orff's music.

So it's the combination of compelling and graphic poetry with this hyper-propulsive music that give "Carmina Burana" it's unique appeal—to both classical music lovers and popular culture.

So electrifying is "Carmina Burana" that is practically impossible for me to sleep after performances! Sharing the stage with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will be The Metropolitan Chorus, Heritage Signature Chorale, NOVA Chorus and Alexandria Choral Society.

Also on the program are guest flute soloists Josue Casillas and Sara Stern playing music by Telemann and a fascinating work by Libby Larsen, entitled "Atmosphere of a Fluid System."

Our "Inspired by Nature" theme this season was so popular that we are extending it into an exciting new direction for our 2010-2011 season, entitled "Symphonic Vistas!" Headliners will be Garrick Ohlsson, Jenny Oaks Baker and Steffen Horn in a season featuring many of music’s greatest evocations of nature…and of man’s endless fascination and love of nature.

See you at the concert!

Kim Allen Kluge
Music Director
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are
you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

Also visit my web site Cheap But Nice Beach Resorts Cebu

Anonymous said...

Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.

There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!


my web blog :: Email Console

Anonymous said...

Greetings from Florida! I'm bored to death at work so I decided to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here and can't wait to take
a look when I get home. I'm shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I'm not even using
WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, very good site!

my blog: Elephant Trekking Thailand Krabi

Anonymous said...

Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog jump out.
Please let me know where you got your theme.
Many thanks

Feel free to visit my weblog - Girls In Boracay Photos

Anonymous said...

Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.

Here is my blog post - Zimbali Lodge Durban Sa

Anonymous said...

What's up to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this web page, and your views are pleasant in favor of new visitors.

Look at my web page: bali diving holiday Packages

Anonymous said...

Your means of explaining all in this piece of writing is truly nice,
all be capable of effortlessly be aware of it, Thanks a lot.


Feel free to surf to my web site - Bali Holiday With Kids

Anonymous said...

Thank yоu foг everу other excellent post.
The place else maу ϳust anуboԁy get that κind of information in ѕuch an ideаl
mеthod of writing? I hаve a prеѕentation next week, and I'm at the search for such info.

Here is my blog; Resort Hotels Cebu City

Anonymous said...

My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .
net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the
expenses. But he's tryiong none the less. I've been using WordPress on a number of websites for about a
year and am worried about switching to another platform. I
have heard fantastic things about blogengine.
net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into
it? Any help would be really appreciated!

Feel free to surf to my blog: boracay beach club

Anonymous said...

This text is priceless. Where can I find out
more?

Also visit my site Air Asia Indonesia Ticket Price Travel Services Bali