Music by Carl Orf
Choreographers – Mukaram Avakhri, Timur Zagidullin
Costume Designer – Varvara Pletneva
Lighting Designer – Denis Solntsev
The mystical and fascinating cantata “Carmina Burana” was composed by the expressionist composer Carl Orff, who is regarded as one of the most significant German composers of the 20th century. Regarded as one of the most enigmatic and awe-inspiring works of the 20th century, “Carmina Burana” is characterised by its profound dynamism. Given its immense impact, the cantata’s popularity is no surprise. It occupies a prominent position at the intersection of classical and popular music in modern culture. Orff characterised the meaning of the cantata as a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit, considering his composition to be optimistic and joyful. The theme of the goddess Fortune is the refrain of this composition. She turns the wheel of fate, which can throw a person into the abyss one moment and bring happiness the next.
The ballet Carmina Burana reflects on human nature and the suffering and torment of the human soul. It also reflects on earthly life and the inseparable connection between man and the highest manifestations of the universe. The material and spiritual, the creative and the destructive collide on the ballet stage to tell about the eternal movement of the wheel of Fortune, the inextinguishable flame of life and the reincarnation of the soul. There are two souls at the heart of the ballet: a young man and a young woman. They are attracted to each other and overwhelmed by the purity of their thoughts. The harmony of their love fascinates them both. However, it is possible to preserve oneself and comprehend the enigma of love only by overcoming temptations.