Carmina Burana

Last night's Utah Symphony concert was truly spectacular and I recommend that you stop reading right now and get a ticket for tonight's performance of the same program as soon as possible because there weren't many empty seats at Abravanel Hall!  The orchestra began with Feuertrunken (Fire-Drunk) by Joshua Cerdenia and I really loved this piece.  It was inspired by Dante and depicts the journey through a wall of fire to get from purgatory to paradise.  It is intense, energetic, and exciting and I particularly enjoyed the themes played by the brass, the percussion (especially the timpani and the bass drum), and the harp.  Next came The Firebird suite by Igor Stravinsky and, as a fan of Russian composers, I loved this as well.  This ballet is based on a series of Russian folktales and features a Firebird that is captured and then released by Prince Ivan and then later recalled to break the evil spell holding thirteen princesses prisoner by King Kastchel.  I especially loved the melody played by the solo oboe, horn, and viola during the Firebird's Dance of Supplication where she pleads with Prince Ivan to let her go and I loved the theme played by the violins and woodwinds during the Dance of the Princesses.  After the intermission, the orchestra performed Carmina Burana by Carl Orff with the Utah Symphony Chorus, the University of Utah Choirs, the Choristers of the Madeleine Choir School, and soloists Christopher Clayton, Jack Swanson (who recently sang the role of Tonio in The Daughter of the Regiment), and Ashley Fabian.  The music is unbelievably dramatic and I had goosebumps through most of it.  The text, which is based on a collection of medieval poetry, describes a wheel of fortune as it turns and features themes of luck and fate during several sections.  My favorite is the well-known "O Fortuna," which frames the piece at the beginning and end, because it is so bombastic and powerful.  The first section is about the rebirth found in Spring and I enjoyed the playful theme played by the solo flute depicting the whirling of dancing couples.  The second section is about feasting, drinking, and debauchery and the interactions between Clayton and Swanson (who impersonates a swan being roasted over a fire) had the audience laughing out loud!  The third section represents romantic love with incredibly tender solos by Clayton and Fabian (along with some encouragement from the children's choir).  This piece is epic and, trust me, you definitely do not want to miss this brilliant performance!  Go here for tickets.