Back at Flagey, the « Chœur de l'ULB » presents one of the most iconic choral works in the repertoire: Carmina Burana. Composed in 1937, in a Germany under the heavy yoke of Nazism, this piece carries a complex historical backdrop.

It is impossible to overlook that Carl Orff, like certain other artists of his time, enjoyed protection from the Nazi state and was able to continue creating, while many others were silenced or persecuted. Remarkably, despite the fresh, even revolutionary energy of the medieval texts he set to music, the work not only escaped the regime’s censorship but was even promoted by it. Yet it conveys none of Nazism’s messages: instead, it celebrates the ups and downs of life, the cycles of nature, love, and the joys of the tavern—offered as remedies for life’s hardships.

With its simple yet striking harmonies, the piece is driven entirely by rhythm, with percussion at its core. It radiates the same infectious enthusiasm that Orff poured into his music for children, though here transformed into a grand, adult scale.

For this concert, we will perform the version for two pianos and percussion.

Choeur de l'ULB, ULB, ULB culture