Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana is one of the most electrifying and recognizable masterworks in the classical canon. Composed in the 1930s, this “scenic cantata” is based on a collection of 24 medieval poems found in a Benedictine monastery, written by wandering monks and scholars. The lyrics, ranging from Latin to Middle High German, diverge sharply from typical religious texts, instead celebrating the earthly pleasures and perils of the human experience: the fickleness of fortune, the joys of spring, the humor of the tavern, and the pangs of romantic love. Musically, the piece is famous for its raw, primal energy and driving rhythms. It is bookended by the iconic “O Fortuna,” a thunderous invocation of the Goddess of Fate that has become a staple of cinema and pop culture due to its dramatic scale. Orff bypassed complex polyphony in favour of direct, powerful melodies and a massive orchestral and choral force that feels both ancient and modern. From the delicate, lyrical solos to the explosive, percussive climaxes, Carmina Burana remains a visceral, high-octane journey through the heights and the depths of human vulnerability.

Commissioned by the Collingwood Music Festival, the program includes the world premiere of Try to Fly, the debut choral composition from 2x Juno Award winner Andy Milne. Set to the powerful words of celebrated poet Shelly Grace, this piece speaks to the journey of growth and the unique experience of living across the past, present, and future simultaneously.