An eruption of the senses in a journey through life’s indulgences, Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” is among the most popular pieces for classical music concertgoers. The opening, “O Fortuna,” is immediately recognizable as the backdrop to many scenes in movies, television and commercials invoking drama unparalleled by other musical numbers. During a live performance, the sheer number of people required to perform the piece adds spectacle to the musical dramaturgy — especially when executed in a small venue such as the Fresno State Concert Hall.

As the main highlight of the 2020 lineup, Fresno State Music Department faculty, students and alumni will combine forces for three performances of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” at 8 p.m. March 13 and 14 and 2:30 p.m. March 15 at the Fresno State Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 general, $15 for seniors and $5 for students. All proceeds benefit the Music Student Scholarship fund. Parking is free in lots P1 and P31.

Buy tickets: March 13 | March 14 | March 15

The Fresno State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Thomas Loewenheim and the Fresno State Grand Chorus under the direction of Dr. Cari Earnhart will feature over 150 performers all together on stage. Faculty member soprano Dr. Maria Briggs will be joined by alumni Aaron Burdick and Lim Forgey as vocal soloists.

“‘Carmina Burana’ is a dramatic and emotionally charged work that will highlight many of our outstanding department faculty and students and alumni. We are extremely excited to perform this popular work for the Central Valley community and hope to raise significant scholarship funds for our students in the process,” said Dr. Matthew Darling, chair of the Fresno State Department of Music.

First performed in 1937 in Germany, “Carmina Burana” is based on 24 medieval poems in Latin, which date back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. The works are divided into three main sections: “In Spring,” “In the Tavern” and “Court of Love” — bookended by “O Fortuna” as opening and closing pieces. The structure of the piece is based on the Fortuna Wheel — or the “Wheel of Fortune” — which represents the rise and fall of the human condition as the movements progress covering the topics of awakening, drunkenness, love and lust.

Spring 2020 Lineup

Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition
8 p.m. Jan. 31, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Double Reed Day Concert
5:30 p.m. Feb. 1, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Chamber Music With Strings
8 p.m. Feb. 6, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Wind Orchestra Concert
8 p.m. Feb. 27, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Fresno State Art Song Festival presents Dr. Anton Belov in concert
8 p.m. Feb. 29, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Symphonic Band Concert
8 p.m. March 17, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland Wind Festival GALA Concert
8 p.m. March 21, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Combos at Wahlberg
8 p.m. March 24, at the Wahlberg Recital Hall. Buy Tickets

Big Bands at Fresno State
8 p.m. March 25, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Spring Percussion Concert
8 p.m. March 30, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Student Composers Recital
8 p.m. April 1, at Wahlberg Recital Hall. Buy Tickets

Voices in Song — A festival for Treble Choirs
9 a.m. April 2 and April 3, at the Concert Hall.

New Music Ensemble
8 p.m. April 15, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Horn Studio Recital
7:30 p.m. April 16, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Flutes at Fresno State: Spring Studio Recital
6 p.m. April 17, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Studio Recital
8 p.m. April 20, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Fresno State Choirs
7:30 p.m. April 25, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Symphonic Band Concert
8 p.m. April 28, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Clendenin Brass Quintet Spring Recital
7:30 p.m, April 29, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Combos at Wahlberg
8 p.m. April 29, at Wahlberg Recital Hall. Buy Tickets

Wind Orchestra Concerto Concert
8 p.m. April 30, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Concert IV – Spotlight on the Students
8 p.m. May 2, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets

Big Bands at Fresno State
8 p.m. May 6, at the Concert Hall. Buy Tickets