Carmina Burana

The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of exhilarating music, rich history, and vibrant cultural connections, joined by the State College Choral Society and distinguished guest soloists Michael Hanley (baritone) and Nic Stark (tenor). The program features two major works: Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Galanta Dances by Zoltán Kodály.

Carl Orff – Carmina Burana
The inspiration for Carmina Burana dates back nearly a millennium. In the centuries around 1100, traveling students across Europe composed Latin songs celebrating love, drink, and the capriciousness of fate. These works, spirited and unapologetically joyful, were preserved in the monastery of Benediktbeuern, Germany. When the monastery closed in 1804, this remarkable collection came to light, revealing a side of medieval life far removed from solemn religious devotion.

In the 1930s, German composer Carl Orff transformed these medieval poems into a monumental cantata. His Carmina Burana bursts with rhythmic vitality, vivid orchestration, and dramatic choral writing, bringing to life the humor, passion, and earthiness of its original authors. The piece’s famous opening and closing movement, “O Fortuna,” has become one of the most recognized musical passages in the world.

Zoltán Kodály – Galanta Dances
Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály’s Galanta Dances is a celebration of his roots. Growing up in the small town of Galanta, Kodály was immersed in both European classical traditions and the folk music of Hungarian villages. After formal training at the Budapest Academy of Music, he and fellow composer Béla Bartók traveled to rural areas to collect and preserve traditional melodies. These field recordings became the foundation for much of Kodály’s work.

Composed in 1933, Galanta Dances draws directly from the vibrant dance tunes Kodály heard as a boy. The piece is a dazzling showcase of Hungarian rhythms, lyrical folk melodies, and masterful orchestration. Kodály’s lifelong mission to integrate folk traditions into formal music education continues to influence teaching methods worldwide, including in local Pennsylvania schools.

State College Choral Society
Founded in 1948 from a women’s chorus that expanded to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor, the State College Choral Society (SCCS) has become central Pennsylvania’s largest classical choral group. With around 100 members from across the region, SCCS presents major works each season, collaborates with orchestras and choirs, and supports charitable causes through special performances. Notably, in 2004 they premiered Voices of the Holocaust, a commissioned work that has since been performed internationally.

Guest Soloists
Baritone Michael Hanley is a sought-after performer and pedagogue, with appearances ranging from Copland’s Old American Songs to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He serves as Associate Professor of Voice at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, mentoring singers for careers on stage and in academia.

Tenor Nic Stark, an Oklahoma native, holds advanced degrees in voice and pedagogy from Penn State and Oklahoma Baptist University. His performances span opera, art song, and concert repertoire, with recent international appearances in Germany.

This collaboration promises an evening where timeless poetry, folk heritage, and world-class artistry meet in an unforgettable musical celebration.

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