CARMINA BURANA, with tenor Ştefan von Korch in the solo line

March 20, 2027 7:00 PM

"Radu Beligan" Summer Theatre Bacau

Extraordinary concert CARMINA BURANA, with tenor Ştefan von Korch in the solo line  – March 20  – Radu Beligan Summer Theatre 7:00 PM

CARMINA BURANA, the work that is performed somewhere in the world every 2 minutes, finds its way to the hearts of the Bacău audience, in a staging and interpretation worthy of its status as an emblem of the symphonic vocal repertoire, in the Musical Extravaganza season, artistically coordinated by the tenor from Bihor, Ştefan von Korch. The performance will mean for music lovers the chance to hear tenor Ştefan von Korch in his "signature" score, having opened the Palermo Classica Festival in Italy and many national philharmonic seasons with Carmina Burana throughout his career. This very autumn, he will open the seasons of the Satu Mare and Târgu Mureș Philharmonics, in this work, a reference for his career, which he has already performed over 40 times. Alongside him will be the beloved soprano Oana Maria Şerban and the acclaimed baritone Alexandru Constantin.  

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.

Tenor Ştefan von Korch, artistic coordinator of the Musical Extravaganza season and a particularly appreciated soloist for the tenor line in Carmina Burana explains: “There are few compositions that have transcended the boundaries of classical music and become part of the universal musical heritage. «Carmina Burana» by Carl Orff is one of them – a symbolic, instantly recognizable work, 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.” 

With a fascinating circular structure – symbolizing the implacable force of destiny itself, 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 day of the performance's premiere, 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 or rediscover.

The soloist says: „I invite you to enjoy together this composition of extraordinary intensity, at the limit of the human voice's capacity."

About ** Ştefan von Korch – Tenor, Host Soloist  Musical Extravaganza**

Ştefan von Korch, applauded for his tenor line in Carmina Burana as well as for his roles in „I Puritani," „The Barber of Seville", „Rigoletto", „The Elixir of Love," or „Falstaff", delights the audience monthly as host soloist and artistic coordinator of the Musical Extravaganza season, a pioneering cultural project carried out in the capital, with extensions on the stages in Braşov, Piteşti, Sibiu, Craiova, and Târgu Mureş. 

 With a dynamic presence in the national cultural life and beyond,  Ștefan von Korch  will open this autumn the seasons of the Philharmonic Orchestras of Satu Mare and Târgu Mureș with his signature work, „Carmina Burana" and will return to the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest  in the concert „Duelul Tenorilor,"  and since the beginning of the year, he has already been present on the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest, at the Brașov Philharmonic, Sibiu, Târgu Mureș, Arad and on the stage of the Iași National Opera in „Văduva veselă 2.0,"  directed by Andrei Șerban.

În 2025 he was the only Romanian soloist in the  highly traditional concerts "Los Tres Tenores,"  from Central America, alongside soloists from Spain and Honduras, he debuted at the Romanian Athenaeum in "Concert at the Imperial Court," he opened the Arad Philharmonic season with "Carmina Burana", his „signature" work, with which he also started the year on the stage of the Transilvania State Philharmonic.

It is the unmistakable voice for the tenor line in Carmina Burana – a passage at the limit of the male voice's capabilities, which he navigates with overflowing ease. Thanks to his performance style, he has been invited to over 40 performances of Carmina Burana, in Philharmonic Halls and cultural institutions across the country, as well as abroad. In 2024, he had the honor of opening the Palermo Classica Festival with this work, with an acclaimed appearance in both the peninsula's and Romania's press.

 His name is also linked to over 15 performances at the National Opera in Bucharest, where he has been invited over time in "The Barber of Seville," "The Elixir of Love," and "Falstaff," as well as to the national premiere of the opera "I Puritani" by Vicenzo Bellini, one of the highest parts written for the male voice.

 He concluded the year 2024 with notable appearances at the Ion Dacian National Operetta and Musical Theatre, at the Palace Hall, and at the Philharmonic Halls in Târgu-Mureș and Timișoara. 

 In 2023, he was the only Romanian soloist in the China Tour 2023, alongside the Orchestra Reino de Aragon from Spain.

 He delighted the audience with his voice in 3 national premieres: "I Puritani" and "La Sonnambula," both by Vicenzo Bellini, the vocal-symphonic work "Messa di Gloria" by Rossini, as well as the European premiere "Traiano in Dacia."

 Over time, he has performed roles specific to his voice in the very well-known operas: "Rigoletto", "The Barber of Seville", "The Elixir of Love", "Don Pasquale", on the stages of the Operas in Bucharest, Cluj, and Iași, and is a constant presence on the stages of national philharmonics, Mozart's "Requiem", Bach's "Christmas Oratorio", and Mendelssohn's "Lobgesang".

Internationally, he has performed at the Metropolitan Concert Hall Tokyo, Zhuhai Opera House, Nanjing Poly Grand Theatre and Chongqing Grand Theatre, Opera Kaiserslautern Germany, Auditorium of Zaragoza, Steri Palace in Palermo, Teatro Verdi Padua Italy, Concert Hall of the Zurich University of Music, National Theatre Bratislava.

Oana Maria Şerban – ** Soprano **

With a warm smile and a voice that blends sensitivity with strength, Oana Șerban conquers stages at home and abroad. Her unique timbre has the power to transform each piece into a story and each note into an emotion. From the energy of opera roles, to the delicacy of pop-opera, and the joy of musical theater, Oana lives each stage appearance as an encounter with her soul audience.

This year she debuted as Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" on the stage of the Bucharest National Opera, and in 2025, soprano Oana Maria Şerban was "Elle" – the sole character in "The Beautiful Indifferent" and "The Human Voice," on the stage of the "Ion Dacian" National Operetta and Musical Theatre, she interpreted the character Miss Honey in "Matilda," a musical from the Children's Comic Opera awarded at the UNITER Gala.

 A year earlier, the talented coloratura soprano sang in the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, on the occasion of the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, performed at the Musikverein in Vienna in the role of Dochița from the Operetta "Crai nou", alongside the Bucharest National Opera and debuted at the Bucharest National Opera in 2023 in the roles of Olympia in the opera The Tales of Hoffmann by J. Offenbach, Gilda in the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, and Susanna, from the opera The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

At the Children's Comic Opera, she is the favorite heroine of the little ones in memorable roles such as Rosina in the opera The Barber of Seville, Clorinda in the opera Cinderella, both by Gioachino Rossini, Norina in the opera Don Pasquale and Adina, from the opera The Elixir of Love, by Gaetano Donizetti.

Alexandru Constantin – baritone

Alexandru Constantin has a complex artistic and academic background, distinguishing himself through his activity in the field of opera, vocal-symphonic music, and chamber recital. x

His repertoire includes important roles from universal opera literature, such as Escamillo from "Carmen" by Georges Bizet, Marcello from "La Bohème" by Giacomo Puccini, Don Giovanni from the opera of the same name by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Valentin from "Faust" by Charles Gounod, Germont from "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi, and Eugene Onegin from the masterpiece by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Alexandru Constantin has also distinguished himself in the vocal-symphonic repertoire, performing reference works such as "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff, "Requiem" by Gabriel Fauré, and creations by Gaetano Donizetti and Felix Mendelssohn.

His concert activity includes recitals of lieder, arias, and duets from famous operas, performed on prestigious stages and in cultural institutions in Romania, such as the Bucharest National Opera, the George Enescu Museum, the Oradea Philharmonic, and the Bucharest National Theatre. He has been invited to gala concerts and important cultural projects, including "Shakespeare and Music," "Take an Opera Break," and the Extraordinary New Year's Concert of the Calea Victoriei Foundation.

About the Musical Extravaganza season

The concerts aim to offer the public the joy of meeting representative names of the lyrical scene, in a more intimate setting, which offers a different perspective on the artistic act compared to that on the imposing opera stage, but also to bring the classical genre closer to audiences of all ages.   Spectators are invited to admire their favorite soloists in a select atmosphere, complemented by chamber accompaniment, which highlights the performers in a warm and personal light.

The first two seasons of Musical Extravaganza, conducted under the artistic direction of tenor Ştefan von Korch, included over 20 successful concerts, in which they delighted the audience, together with the host soloist: sopranos Oana Maria Şerban, Cristina Maria Oltean, Daniela Bucşan, tenors George Vîrban, Mihai Urzicana, Andrei Mihalcea, Alin Stoica, baritones Adrian Mărcan and Fang Shuang, pianist Alexandru Burcă, accordionist Emy Drăgoi, pianist Bogdana Cocîrlea, pianist Marius Groza and the Orchestra of the Ion Dacian National Operetta and Musical Theatre – in salon formation and the Pitești Philharmonic Orchestra – the most avant-garde in the country.

Starting with the 2026 / 2027 season, the Musical Extravaganza season will also bring complete works to the public – the first of which will be the cantata "Carmina Burana", followed by "Messa da Requiem" by Giuseppe Verdi.