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Carmina Burana (Songs of Beuern) is the Latin title for a collection of poems (mostly in Latin) which can be traced back to thirteenth century Bavaria, the works of various monks and students. The musical setting by German composer Carl Orff of 24 of the poems is one of the best known of all choral works and provides the musical background for this production. Andalusion Images of Carmina Burana is a kind of flamenco ballet which draws upon the Carmina Burana to tell a story through a series of tableaux of rythmic, foot-stamping flamenco dance.
Curtain Up - The curtain rises to an expressive and energetic solo male flamenco performance. Carmina Burana - cherubic maidens float in the air before an imaginary woman, Carmina Burana, arrives and dances flanked by two male guards. The Virgin and the Moon - The Virgin mary descends from the sky with choral music. The Jolly Little Monks - Two midget monks appear. They steal the Virgin's moon and try to catch four maidens dancing to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Up to Heaven With Her - Soft music and choir accompany the Virgin's tears and ascent back into heaven. The Sorrow of Song and Dance - Flamenco dance and song. Goring by the Bull - The two male flamencos are impaled on the horns of bulls while the female flamenco dances and the two monks drink. Lyrical Sorrow - Song by solitary soprano. Horses, Monks and Women - Two magnificent white stallions join in with the circular dance of four maidens. The Naked Truth - The monks tear off the women dancers outer costumes whilst the choir sings. The Allegory - A black cross is lowered from above. The female flamenco performs a mournful dance before she is crucified on the cross. Lyrical Martydom - A solitary soprano sings whilst the cross is raised upright with the crucified woman. Solitude - The cross is lowered and the crucified woman is carried away. Carmina Burana Comes Again - The shade of the crucified woman reappears and dances again. Curtain Down - A triumphal march with billowing flags to music and choir.
This was a proud and energetic production, angst filled and replete with religious imagery. The action takes place against a blacked-out stage upon which the performers stand out starkly in their mainly white costumes. At the back of the stage is a kind of miniature dual ferris wheel on which scantily clad maidens are harnessed to rotate in the air praying and emitting silent screams. To either side of the stage are skeletal metal bulls which are used for the bull goring scene, and a large black cross is lowered from above for the crucifiction scene. Two little monks (a direct allusion to the origins of the Carmina Burana) played by midgets add to the surrealism of the imagery, as well as injecting a modicum of humour with their most un-monklike behaviour (drinking and looking under the girls skirts). The two white stallions meanwhile, add a touch of majesty to the proceedings.
The music and chorals are mostly recorded but with solo voice and Spanish guitars being supplied by the performers on stage. It would have been nice to have had surtitles to be able to follow the story of the songs. The tone of the production ranges from the joyful to the mournful, and all emphasised by proud, expressive foot-stamping flamenco dancing. The centrepiece of the action is the cross and the symbolic crucifixion, but it is the rigour and urgency of the flamenco that gives the production its power and potency.
Lalo Tejada, the female flamenco soloist gave a sprited and empassioned perfermance with expressive arm movements, rapid foot movements and practiced flicks of her heel to throw the train of her dress out of the way of her feet. In the crucifiction scene she first of all dances over the cross before being raised upon it. Marco Vargas, the lead male flamenco gave an impressive and energetic performance with foot movements too rapid for the eye to follow. Ana Real and Rosa Angeles were the two deep voiced flamenco singers whilst Alicia Murillo was particularly memorable for her beautiful crystal clear soprano.
Powerful, angst-filled, magnificent. Those who have read my previous reviews will no doubt be aware that my taste in dance essentially runs to classical ballet then jumps on a bus and goes home. Nevertheless, this was much more than just an interesting aside. A first class production.