Choirs Aotearoa - Carmina Burana

The combined choirs of Choirs Aotearoa perform Carl Orff's earthy and exhilarating Carmina Burana.

In 1935, Carl Orff, who was the conductor of the Munich Bach Society, was introduced to a 13th Century collection of poems and texts from the monastery at Beuren.

The texts, published in the 19th Century under the title Carmina Burana ("Songs of Beuern") contain insights into the feelings and experiences of the people of the 13th Century.

Orff was immediately drawn to the collection's raw, earthy qualities and vivid imagery. He set about two dozen of the texts to music, resulting in one of the most popular 20th Century choral works.

This performance in Holy Trinity Cathedral in July 2022 featured all three choirs of Choirs Aotearoa – the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, the New Zealand Youth Choir, and Voices New Zealand – the first time the three had been massed together since 2002.

They were joined by soloists Natasha Te Rupe Wilson (soprano), Oliver Sewell (tenor) and James Harrison (baritone) – all alumni of the choirs – along with Nota Bella, the Westlake Girls' High School Junior Choir.

Carmina Burana is normally performed with a full orchestra, but Carl Orff produced a version with the reduced instrumental forces of two pianos, timpani and percussion.

This is the version used in this performance with Michael Stewart, Rachel Fuller (pianos), Brent Stewart (timp), Jeremy Fitzsimons, Eric Renick, Naoto Segawa, Ben Whitton, Camryn Nel (perc).

Carmina Burana is conducted by Karen Grylls, Artistic Director of Choirs Aotearoa.

The concert opened, however, with the world premiere performance of Forest Song by Christchurch-based composer Rosa Elliott conducted by David Squire.

Rosa ELLIOTT: Forest Song

Forest Song is an ode of gratitude to Aotearoa's native environment. It speaks of the beauty of the deeply reciprocal relationship between the land and its people. It is perhaps this interconnectedness that often makes us feel relaxed, peaceful and at home in nature. The piece is a reminder of our co-dependency with nature and the importance of appreciating and protecting it. — Rosa Elliott

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Carl ORFF: Carmina Burana (selections)

Section 1: Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi and Primo Vere
O Fortuna; Fortune plango vulnera; Veris leta facies; Omnia sol temperat; Ecce gratum

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Section 2: Uf dem anger
Tanz; Floret silva nobilis; Chramer, gip die varwe mir; Reie; Swaz hie gat umbe

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Section 3: In taberna
Olim lacus colueram; Ego sum abbas; In taberna quando sumus

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Section 4: Cours d'amours
Amor volat undique; Dies, nox et omnia; Stetit puella

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Section 5: Cours d'amours
Veni, veni, venias; In trutina

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Section 6: Blanziflor et Helena and Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi
Ave formosissima; O Fortuna

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Recorded by RNZ Concert
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay