On July 5 and 6, the long-awaited premiere of the cantata ballet “Carmina Burana” is scheduled to take place, DKnews.kz reports.
This unique project will see the choir, orchestra and ballet troupe united on our stage for the first time.
The mystical and mesmerising production of “Carmina Burana”, created by the expressionist composer Carl Orff, one of the most outstanding German composers of the 20th century, became the basis for a philosophical and emotional ballet. This composition is widely regarded as one of the century’s most remarkable pieces of music, characterised by its profound energy. It occupies a unique position within modern culture, situated between the domains of academic classics and popular art.
The composer described his composition as a celebration of the victory of the human spirit and considered it to be imbued with joy and life-affirming sentiment. The cross-cutting theme of the work is the depiction of the goddess Fortune, spinning the wheel of fate. This symbolises change, inevitability and the eternal cycle.
The ballet “Carmina Burana” is a profound reflection on human nature, the sufferings and torments of the soul, and the inseparable connection of human with higher powers. On the ballet stage, the material and the spiritual, the creative and the destructive collide. This is to tell you about the eternal movement of the wheel of Fortune, the flame of life and the reincarnation of the soul.
The ballet has two central characters: a young man and a young girl. They are attracted to each other and drawn to the harmony of love. However, it is possible to save oneself by overcoming temptations and maintaining a state of purity of thought.
The visuals of the production draw inspiration from not only Orff’s musical compositions, but also the artistic style of Renaissance painters. In the play, the forces of creation and destruction manifest themselves as symbolic characters. These characters are conventionally correlated with the Creator and the Tempter.
“Carmina Burana” is conventionally comprised of four parts, each with its own unique musical character. We decided to emphasise this in a plastique way. In this performance, the artists transition from classical choreography to a style of dance characterised by freer plasticity and elements of contemporary style. It is vital for performers to work with such diverse musical material and various plastique materials,” asserted choreographer Timur Zagidullin.
The new choreographic work was created with the help of talented figures from the art world. The music of Carl Orff provided the foundation for the production, giving it the necessary scale and emotional depth. Choreographers Mukaram Abubakhrieva (Avakhri) and Timur Zagidullin employed a highly expressive choreographic style, thereby conveying the dramaturgy of the work.
The visual appearance of the production was developed by costume designer Varvara Pletneva, who combined symbolism and modern interpretation in the stage design and costumes. The lighting designer, Denis Solntsev, created a distinctive atmosphere through his use of precise and expressive lighting solutions. Video artist Marat Sagadinov enhanced the visual impact of the performance by means of dynamic projections that were seamlessly integrated into the stage space.
The musical director of the production and conductor Arman Urazgaliyev, in collaboration with the symphony orchestra of the theatre, provided a robust and impactful musical accompaniment. The performance of the vocal part was executed with the participation of the choir, under the direction of Gulmira Kuttybadamova, which facilitated the delivery of a performance of a remarkable scale and sound, capable of provoking a strong emotional response in the audience.
The premiere of the ballet “Carmina Burana” is set to be a stage revelation. For the first time, the choir, orchestra and ballet will unite in a single artistic space to create a large-scale and soulful production. In this production, every element – from musical emphasis to plastique gesture – will work to reveal the deep meaning of the eternal work.
