The long-awaited premiere of the cantata ballet Carmina Burana took place on the stage of the Astana Ballet Theatre on 5 and 6 July. This unique project saw the choir, orchestra and ballet troupe unite for the first time, DKnews.kz reports.
The mystical and mesmerising production of Carmina Burana, created by the Expressionist composer Carl Orff – one of the most notable German composers of the 20th century – formed the basis of a philosophical and emotional ballet. This piece of music is one of the most stunning of the century, brimming with incredible energy. It occupies a unique position in modern culture, falling somewhere between academic classics and mass art.
The composer described his piece as a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit, considering it to be both joyful and life-affirming. The work’s overarching theme was the image of the goddess Fortune turning the wheel of fate, symbolising change, inevitability, and the eternal cycle.
The ballet “Carmina Burana” is a reflection on human nature and the suffering and torment of the soul. It also explores the inseparable connection between humans and higher powers. On the ballet stage, the material and the spiritual, the creative and the destructive collided. All of this serves to illustrate the eternal movement of the Wheel of Fortune and the flame of life, as well as the reincarnation of the soul.
At the heart of the ballet are two souls: a young man and a young woman. They are attracted to each other by the harmony of their love. However, it is only possible to save oneself by overcoming temptations while maintaining purity of thought.
The characters of the ballet were inspired not only by Orff’s music, but also by paintings by Renaissance artists. In the play, the forces of creation and destruction are represented by symbolic characters that are traditionally associated with the Creator and the Tempter.
Carmina Burana conventionally consisted of four parts that differ musically from each other. It was decided by the production team that this should be emphasised through movements. During the performance, the dancers transitioned from classical choreography to a style of dance with greater freedom of movement and elements of contemporary dance.
“It is very important for artists to work with such diverse musical material and with various choreographic approaches,” said choreographer Timur Zagidullin.
The creation of the new choreographic work was a collaborative effort involving talented figures of art. The music of Carl Orff, which formed the basis of the production, gave it scale and emotional depth. The choreographers, Mukaram Abubakhrieva (Avakhri) and Timur Zagidullin, conveyed the dramaturgy of the work through expressive choreography.
Varvara Pletneva, the costume designer, developed the production’s visual appearance, combining symbolism and a modern interpretation in the set design and costumes. Lighting designer Denis Solntsev created a special atmosphere for the performance using precise and expressive lighting solutions. Video artist Marat Sagadinov enhanced the performance’s visual impact through dynamic projections that were seamlessly integrated into the stage space.
Arman Urazgaliyev, the musical director of the production and conductor, provided powerful and impressive musical accompaniment with the theatre’s symphony orchestra. 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, leaving the audience unreservedly impressed.
The premiere of the ballet “Carmina Burana” was a real stage revelation. For the first time, the choir, orchestra and ballet came together in a single artistic space to create a large-scale and soulful production. In this production, every element, from musical emphasis to choreographic gesture, worked to reveal the deep meaning of this eternal work.
