Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

The Arts


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Friday, November 6, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Comments (0)     E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Full stage of musicians, orchestra to back 'Carmina Burana' at Benaroya

Classical roundup: Seattle Symphony Orchestra's "Carmina Burana," and guitarist Xuefei Yang are at Benaroya Hall next week.

Special to The Seattle Times

A full stage of orchestra and vocalists awaits "Carmina Burana," while an internationally renowned Chinese guitarist arrives with a promising program.

Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle (206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org).

Seattle Symphony Orchestra pulls out all the stops for its performance of Carl Orff's spectacular scenic cantata, "Carmina Burana," joining forces with Seattle Symphony Chorale, soprano Terri Richter and tenor/baritone Paul Karaitis, plus the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle.

Premiering in Frankfurt in 1937, "Carmina Burana's" text is derived from 24 of the poems found in a 13th-century collection that came into the possession of a Benedictine abbey near Munich. The medieval writings are the work of Goliards — itinerant clergy and scholars who satirized the Roman Catholic Church.

Orff's long, Latin subtitle for his score translates to "Profane songs to be sung by soloists and chorus with an accompaniment of instruments and magic tableaux." The latter phrase has inspired many a production involving mime and dance, though that won't be the case at Benaroya Hall.

The best-known movement in the piece is "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (O Fortuna)," with its powerful rhythm, big percussion, driving vocals and a dazzling finish. (Movies and rock groups have frequently used "O Fortuna" for its seemingly sinister — some would even suggest satanic — sound, though "Carmina Burana" is really about ordinary experiences of life: the acquisition and loss of good fortune, the arrival and departure of spring, etc.)

Gerard Schwarz conducts, while the choruses have been prepared by Seattle Symphony Associate Conductor for Choral Activities Joseph Crnko.

The program also includes Mendelssohn's Overture to "Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde," followed by Spohr's Violin Concerto No. 8 in A minor. Seattle Symphony Concertmaster Maria Larionoff is the featured soloist on the latter.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Nov. 13, and 8 p.m. Nov. 14, S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium; $17-$100.

Xuefei Yang

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Xuefei Yang presents an intimate performance of classical works next Tuesday, the first in both the Guitar and Celebrate Asia series for this 2009-10 season.

advertising

Regarded as both a musical pioneer and the first Chinese guitarist to sign with a major record label, Yang began playing at age 7 and entered Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music. A year later, she was performing in Madrid, and has gone on to play throughout Europe, Asia and Australia, often collaborating with chamber and symphony orchestras.

Yang's highly eclectic program at Benaroya includes a transcription for guitar of Bach's Lute Partita in E major; Regondi's 1864 "Reverie Nocturne," a Romantic work also regarded as possibly the first piece for guitar to utilize the tremolo technique (a vibrating effect); "The Chinese Garden," compositions by Yang and Stephen Goss based on traditional Chinese folk themes; and Albéniz's "España," six short pieces originally written for piano.

Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.; Nordstrom Recital Hall; $35.

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com.

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

More The Arts

NEW - 03:33 PM
Everett Symphony may cancel rest of season after holiday shows

Giant Magnet, which presents children's festival, taps founder as interim director

Preview: Renaissance Singers usher in season with 'Christmas in Cambridge'

SuttonBeresCuller: Big thinkers turn their attention to smaller-scale artworks

The Short List: What our writers love this week

More The Arts headlines...

No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.


Get home delivery today!

Video

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle

Advertising

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising