An absolute hit of classical music, still inspiring artists: from advertising makers to heavy metal bands. Each performance of Carmina Burana fills the concert halls to the last place, and the history of the work's creation shows how fruitful the encounter between the Middle Ages (text) and the 20th century (music) can be.
Carl Orff boldly combined 13th-century poetry with music, where rhythm and effective choral parts play the leading role. The composer treated the text of the cantata "percussionally", introducing multiple repetitions of words or phrases and exposing syllables. The piece consists of three parts. The first, Primo vere, celebrates the charms of nature, the second, In taberna, praises the fun and enjoyment of the table, while the third, Cour d'amours, celebrates love. The parts are clamped together by the famous prologue, repeated also at the end of the work: O Fortuna, like the moon is constantly changing / you are constantly growing / or disappearing / dark or radiant. Regardless of the age, these words still remain relevant, and Carmina Burana moves listeners, be it in the 20th or 21st century.