The choir last performed this tremendous choral work in November 2015. Under the baton of Jonathan Kingston, the choir will perform this popular scenic cantata accompanied by Julian Harris and Craig Greene on two pianos and the addition of four percussionists. The choir will be joined by soloists, Angela Kazimierczuk (soprano); Paul Badley (tenor); Philip Smith (Baritone) and the Ragazzi choir will be performed by Warriner School choir under their tutor Dylan McCaig.

Carmina Burana (Songs of Beuern) is a scenic cantata based on 24 Medieval poems and was written by Orff in 1936.. Orff set these poems to music in what he termed a “scenic cantata”. The poems are mostly in Latin, the international language of the day, though some are in old French or Middle High German.

It was originally designed for the stage, with dancing and mime accompanying the music and was first performed at the Frankfurt Opera House in 1937. The work begins and ends with a powerful hymn to the goddess Fortuna, the Empress of the World, seen as a monstrous whirling wheel.

The acoustics in the stunning venue, St Mary’s Church Banbury, will only enhance this magnificent music.