Review: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Lighthouse:

By Mike Marsh – Daily Echo

Orff - Carmina Burana

Thursday 19th April 2012

In full frontal fecundity the BSO, Chorus and Youth Chorus proclaimed the utopian vision of the Land of Cockaigne: Carl Orff’s adaptation of a 13th century manuscript into his magnum opus; Carmina Burana.

With penetrating insight conductor Owain Arwel Hughes pulled off an astonishing performance with sterling contributions from three soloists.

Baritone Jacques Imbrailo’s lines from this libidinous libretto included an inebriately malevolent Ergo sum abbas and a mellifluous Omnia sol temperat. The bizarre pathos of The Roast Swan was superbly voiced in high tenor by Mark Milhofer and in soprano Ailish Tynan we heard radiant innocence in a Girl Stood, a coyly sung In trutina and perhaps her forte in Dulcissime.

The BSYC showed their proclivity for vocal finesse; their Musical Director Elizabeth Naylor taking a bow alongside the BSC’s Chorus Master Gavin Carr whose singers were impeccable in the biting rhythms of this hymn to life, love, lust and libation.

There is perhaps a tenuous link with Elgar’s Cockaigne; a Concert Overture impression of bustling London life at the turn of the 20th century, the cockney inhabitants envying the luxuries available is conjectural, the performance though was stunning. And the love interest in Berlioz’ Overture Roman Carnival was beautifully presented from the cor anglais of Rebecca Kozam with plenty of dash from the BSO.

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Orff, Carl (1895-1982), Carmina Burana Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Owain Arwel Hughes, Conductor

Ailish Tynan, Soprano

Jacques Imbrailo, Baritone

Mark Milhofer, Tenor

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus

If ever a concert could be described as a firework, this was it. The stage was ignited with music

and we waited for the best bit - that crucial, beautiful explosion of colour. As part of the Colston

Hall’s International Classical Season, The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performed the

iconic choral work Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (1895-1982). Joining them on stage were the

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus. Known chiefly now in Britain as the opening music for the TV

programme 'The X Factor', Carmina Burana is full of impact and oomph especially when it is

heard live. One entered the hall to be faced with a huge set up including two pianos and several

enormous, strategically placed percussion instruments.

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The climax of the night was Orff’s Carmina Burana for which the conductor, Owain Arwell

Hughes CBE, had the task of guiding four choirs, a symphony orchestra and three solo singers.

The highlight of this performance was undoubtedly O Fortuna sung by the Bournemouth

Symphony Chorus with such conviction that it felt like the roof of the Colston Hall would lift off

with the force of their voices. The satirical text of Carmina Burana is a curious compilation

created by Orff from a thirteenth-century collection of secular songs. The three soloists at the

front each had their moments to shine. It was worth the wait to hear soprano, Ailish Tynan's

beautiful rendition of Setit Puella (A Girl Stood) while baritone Jaques Imbrailo showed immense

power in his solo Ego Sum Abbas (I am the Abbott). A very dramatic work, Carmina Burana

benefits from such a strong presence as Imbrailo offered. Tenor Mark Milhofer sang a witty

Cignus Ustus Cantat (The Roast Swan) where a swan sings about how he has ended up about

to be served on a table.

Overall, a great show that certainly gave Carmina Burana the fiery passion it deserved - an

immense evening on a seriously large scale.

Submitted by Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres on 21st April 2012