'Carmina Burana' proves bawdy and exciting
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Conductor Robert De Cormier Submitted photo |
Toolbox
By Jim Lowe Times Argus Staff - Published: April 21, 2009
COLCHESTER – Carl Orff's brash and bawdy "Carmina Burana" elicited the kind of response that might be expected at a rock concert Saturday – though the work was written in 1936 and the audience was the usual classical music crowd.
Robert De Cormier conducted the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus in this exciting work to a jam-packed Elley-Long Music Center, while Dawn Willis, the assistant conductor, led the ensemble in the premiere of an evocative work by Braintree composer Gwyneth Walker.
Orff (1885-1982) based the hour-long "Carmina Burana" on a 12th century manuscript of student songs about wine, women and song. The result was a Bacchanalian orgy of sound, with driving rhythms reminiscent of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." Although not of the Bach-Handel-Mozart level, it is a masterpiece of choral writing, using the full chorus as both lyrical and rhythmic instruments.
Orff originally scored the work for full orchestra, but version for two pianos and percussion, Orff's own, employed by De Cormier certainly didn't lack punch. De Cormier and the chorus not only delivered the power of this work, they accentuated the rich harmonic language, full of exotic scales, and the sensual driving rhythms.
The chorus, created by De Cormier, acquitted itself beautifully. The rhythmic precision – so important – was quite effective, as was the seamless blend of sound. But, most importantly, the emotional force behind the sound was simply exciting.
The vocal soloists proved fine as well. Baritone Jonathan Bayer used his rich and pliable voice deftly, both rhythmically and lyrically, leaving a distinct emotional impact. Soprano Claire Hungerford sang with a beautiful lyricism and delivered the coloratura solo effectively. Roger Grow's soft but right-on tenor gave his arias an almost exotic character. The pianists and VSO percussionists backed the ensemble effectively and with flair.
Walker's "Journey on the Open Road," an introspective look at the journey of life, used pretty much the same forces. The work is superficially tonal, but with finely crafted harmonic and rhythmic underpinnings that gave it some spice. There wasn't a lot of the variety and the final climax was a bit on the long side to be exciting, but there was flavor and warmth. Willis and the chorus were comfortable with the work, making it a success with the audience.