Watch video of Nashville Ballet’s Carmina Burana.

Michael A. Rose, associate professor composition B at the Blair School of Music; Director Paul Vasterling, and dancers from the Nashville Ballet explored the larger than life production of Carmina Burana. Latin for Songs from Beuern, Carmina Burana is a collection of poems written by students and clergy from the 11th – 13th centuries which satirized and rebelled against the Catholic Church for its controversial politics of the time. In 1936, several of the poems were put to music by German composer Carl Orff. Orffís popular score continues to live on through countless television commercials, film scores, and concert performances around the globe. With original choreography by Vasterling, the Nashville Ballet brings the music and irreverent poems to new life onstage.

Excerpts from Carmina Burana were performed at the April 21 InsideOut of the Lunch Box, a series of lunchtime presentations and discussions about the performing arts.