CARMINA BURANA

September 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM

CARMINA BURANA, the work that starts being performed somewhere in the world every 2 minutes, finds its way to the heart of the Cluj-Napoca audience, in a staging and interpretation worthy of its status as an emblem of the symphonic vocal repertoire. From the devastating power of the famous "O Fortuna" to moments of lyricism, exuberance, and humor, the audience will be captivated by the unique tumult of this work, by the complexity of the orchestral texture, by the impetuosity of the choral interventions, and by the fascinating solo lines that will narrate the stories that Carl Orff found in a collection of medieval texts and transformed into the most famous symphonic vocal work in the world. The performance will mean for music lovers the chance to hear tenor Ștefan von Korch in his "signature" score, as he has opened the Palermo Classica Festival in Italy throughout his career, as well as many seasons of national philharmonics with Carmina Burana. The audience will also enjoy the participation of members of the Symphony Orchestra of the Dinu Lipatti Philharmonic from Satu Mare and members of the Mixed Choir of the State Philharmonic Târgu Mureș.

Tenor Ştefan von Korch, artistic coordinator of the Musical Extravaganza season and a soloist particularly appreciated for the tenor line in Carmina Burana explains: „There are few compositions that have crossed the boundaries of classical music and become part of the universal musical heritage. «Carmina Burana» by Carl Orff is one of them – a symbolic work, instantly recognizable, whose sonic imprint – «O Fortuna» - has an unmistakable resonance that goes beyond concert halls, enlivening manifestations in cinematic, theatrical, or choreographic art and many others. The chance to hear it live on stage, in its full embodiment and artistic complexity, is a transformative experience for any spectator and a test of mastery for artists.”  Those present at the performance on September 18 will also enjoy the interpretation of tenor Ştefan von Korch, which was praised at the opening of the Palermo Classica festival and applauded over 40 times on stages in Romania.

With a fascinating circular structure – symbolizing the very relentless force of destiny, Carmina Burana musically embodies in 24 tableaux the tumult of life, desire, joy, the rebirth of nature, and the call of carnal pleasures, being thematically as relevant today as on the premiere day of the performance, which took place in 1937, and proof of its extraordinary power to fascinate entire generations of listeners is the very fact that every two minutes, somewhere  a new interpretation of this masterpiece begins, which you are invited to discover on September 18 at ATP Tech Center in Baia Mare.