Carmina Burana Inspired

In this unique performance, the dramatic power of Orff’s music meets the artistry of the Allwood Choir — an elite ensemble of award-winning choral singers, each a member of some of the UK’s most distinguished vocal groups — alongside two exceptional soloists, live pipe organ and piano. This St Albans premiere offers a rare and intimate version of one of the most iconic works of the 20th century. A daring, visceral cantata based on 13th-century texts — part pagan, part sacred, part scandalous — Carmina Burana speaks to the eternal cycles of luck, lust, love, and loss. Composed in 1935–36 and based on 24 poems from the medieval Codex Buranus , Orff’s explosive choral writing transformed these ancient verses into one of the most iconic works of the 20th century, opening with the thunderous O Fortuna , a hymn to the cruelty and unpredictability of fate. This concert follows the traditional three-part structure: 1. Spring’s Awakening 2. The Tavern 3. The Court of Love Framed by a dramatic prologue and epilogue that remind us: the wheel of fortune never stops turning. Newly adapted from original manuscripts and arranged specifically for this space, the programme offers a bold and emotionally charged experience that reveals the inner intensity of Orff’s vision.