Vermont Symphony Orchestra Presents
VSO: O Fortuna!
Main Stage
About
Based on ancestral Huichol folklore from Mexico, Grammy Award-winning composer Gabriela Ortiz’ piece explores the Kauyamari, or “blue deer”, a spiritual guide transformed through an extended pilgrimage. The concert follows with the epic Carmina Burana, a thrilling cantata by Carl Orff, based on medieval poems celebrating the joys of life, love, and fortune. With its famous opening, O Fortuna, this dynamic work combines chorus, soloists, and full orchestra in a dramatic journey from fate’s cruelty to the pleasures of spring, tavern revelry, and courtly romance. Its driving rhythms, bold harmonies, and theatrical energy have captivated audiences since its 1937 premiere. Whether grand and ominous or tender and playful, Carmina Burana is an unforgettable musical spectacle—visceral, vivid, and emotionally charged. This performance promises an electrifying experience that showcases the full force of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in one of the most iconic and beloved works of the 20th century.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is preceded at 6:30 p.m. by Musically Speaking, a free pre-concert discussion that provides entertaining insight into the evening’s program.
PROGRAM
Andrew Crust, conductor
Gabriela Ortiz - Kauyumari
Intermission
Carl Orff - Carmina Burana
