Carmina Burana

About Carmina Burana
Orff composed Carmina Burana in 1935-36.  The work was premiered on June 8, 1937, in a staged performance (with sets and costumes) at the Frankfurt Opera, conducted by Bertil Wetzelberger.  The first performance in the United States took place on January 10, 1954, in San Francisco. 
 
Carmina Burana runs about one hour in performance.  Orff scored it for an orchestra of 3 flutes (second and third doubling piccolo), 3 oboes (third doubling english horn), 3 clarinets (third doubling piccolo clarinet in E-flat), bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (3 glockenspiels, xylophone, castanets, ratchet, jingles, 2 antique cymbals, 4 cymbals, tam-tam, 3 bells, tubular bells, tambourine, 2 side drums, bass drum), 2 pianos, celesta and strings, plus soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, children’s chorus and mixed chorus.
 
The Cleveland Orchestra first performed Carmina Burana at the inaugural Blossom Festival in August 1968, under the direction of Louis Lane, with the Blossom Festival Chorus and Children’s Chorus, and guest soloists.  The Orchestra recorded Carmina Burana in 1974 under the direction of guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Boys’ Chorus, and soloists Judith Blegen, Kenneth Riegel, and Peter Binder.