Music review: Passion meets precision as Vancouver Symphony Orchestra pulls off massive Carmina Burana
Vancouver Bach Choir vocal power, thundering percussion, and tight string section earn standing ovation


Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents Carmina Burana at the Orpheum Theatre to February 25
WITH ITS EXTREMES of smashing percussion and susurrating strings, booming choruses and whispered incantations, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana can be an unwieldy beast. But energized guest conductor Jordan de Souza brought extreme precision to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the 150-strong Vancouver Bach Choir and Vancouver Bach Children’s Choir’s rendition of the German composer’s biggest hit—without sacrificing any of its strange and brash flourishes.
This is, after all, an often-bawdy work about the volatility of fate, and the ups and downs of drinking, lust, and wealth. Orff based his 1937 piece on the medieval poetry of the Goliards, monks disillusioned by moral corruption.
It’s a piece audiences know well—not just from their classical CD collection, but the cantata’s heavy rotation in movies and advertising. In other words, there’s an expectation that comes with Carmina Burana—and in this case, the crowd jumped to its feet for a standing ovation after the final, exhilarating extended chord.
De Souza’s attention to detail could be heard immediately in the opening “O Fortuna”, with its brisk and exacting tempo and the choir’s articulation in the hushed, warning repetitions.
The strings found all the detailed textures of Orff’s score, flowing and beautifully restrained in the quiet sections, slashing and stabbing in unison in others.
Principal percussionist Vern Griffiths and his team also deserved full props, as they wielded all manner of cymbals, bells, drums, and xylophones to bring the range of thundering pulses and otherworldly rattling to the piece. De Souza cued and silenced them to the millisecond, emphasizing the score’s rhythmic verve.
The three Canadian soloists were strong, soprano Tracy Dahl handing in a deeply expressive “In Trutina” and baritone James Westman hitting his stride in the Tavern and Court of Love sections. And celebrated BC tenor Benjamin Butterfield stole the show in the eerie yet satirical “Olim lacus colueram”, flapping his tux tails like the swan of the song, and pretending to cringe at the tune’s sudden bursts of percussion—even though he strained in the punishing higher notes.
For fans of this big, bold banger of the classical world, it’s worth catching the second performance tonight. It’s fun watching the multitude of elements come together live onstage—to discover the instruments that create some of Carmina’s weirder textures and to witness the raw power of the chorus’s crescendos. Most of all, though, it’s a kick to watch De Souza command these forces with such spirit. His body becomes the taut and rhythmically attuned centre of a dazzling storm.
Janet Smith is cofounder and editorial director of Stir. She is an award-winning arts journalist who has spent more than two decades immersed in Vancouver’s dance, screen, design, theatre, music, opera, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.
Related Articles
Genre-spanning international and local talents take to North Shore venues in BlueShore at CapU and Vancouver International Jazz Festival presentation
Program includes an Emily Carr–inspired piece by Tawnie Olson, a composition about a satellite falling out of orbit by Chris Sivak, and more
In Have You Heard Judi Singh?, Vancouver director interweaves archival footage, re-created moments, and mesmerizing music in tribute to late Punjabi-Black artist
Set in the aftermath of World War II, updated production adds depth and nuance to the iconic work
Another 30 concerts will take place at Performance Works, Ocean Artworks, and the Revue Stage from June 20 to July 1
Tanzania’s Zawose Queens and Congo’s Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin rub shoulders with Canadian names like Elisapie and Ocie Elliott at ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park, July 18 to 20
At Pacific Spirit United Church, program draws on previously performed works by Bach, Mahler, and more
Vetta Chamber Music’s artistic director is joined by talented colleagues for a season-closing program of Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert
Virtuosic singer and dancer takes the intoxicating sounds of early Afro-funk and soul in exciting new directions
The choir’s long-time artistic director hopes the upcoming concert will open new ears to choral music’s powers to heal and create community
Adult and children’s choirs perform hits by the Beatles and Broadway favourites from musicals like Mamma Mia! and Mary Poppins
Alternating as Cio-Cio San, Yasko Sato and Karen Chia-Ling Ho navigate the emotional toll of Vancouver Opera’s post–Second World War–set tragedy
Andrey Boreyko conducts the program, which features selections from Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy’s Magic Horn)
Both traditional and groundbreaking, works from the 17th century and the present day mingle in this exploration of the musical riches of Venice
Veteran singer Norma Winstone and drummer Joe LaBarbera join the trio to deliver exciting new perspectives on familiar tunes
Offerings include Downtown Jazz concerts on June 21 and 22, Bentall Centre happy-hour shows from June 23 to 27, and a day-long July 1 celebration
Tawnie Olson’s “Beloved of the Sky” and Andrew Balfour’s “Kiyam” accompany a new work by laura hawley on the program
Borealis String Quartet, Gryphon Trio, and more musicians to perform world-class compositions at RockRidge Canyon lakeside resort
All-Canadian production by Sound the Alarm: Music/Theatre features iconic hits from Disney and Hollywood musicals
The young ensemble revisits and reinvigorates repertoire with an energy that breaks through classical solemnity
Toronto-based turntable artist and composer performs his piece Within Touch with close-up projections of his storytelling process
Science meets history in Vancouver violinist’s 50-minute piece of music for violin and found-sound
Composer Chihchun Chi-sun Lee portrays Taiwanese dragons through sound
Innovation Series features five concerts from June 25 to 29, while the return of Time Flies brings three free late-night shows to Granville Island
Program also features virtuoso British pianist Stephen Hough, who hosts a Pyatt Hall masterclass on April 10
Program honours special people and moments in the choir’s history with works by Bach, Mahler, and more
Early Music Vancouver program features a piffari, or wind band, accompanied by the early dances of French and Italian court festivities
Vancouver Chamber Choir concert features some of the Italian virtuoso’s most enduring Renaissance music
Fast-paced feminist adventure follows three coworkers who rebel against their boss
In musical travels from rock and electronica to folk and blues, the roving artist has followed her curiosity and intuition beyond industry-drawn boundaries