The Forbidden City Concert: Carmina Burana
The Forbidden City Concert: Carmina Burana

Movie spotlight

The Forbidden City Concert: Carmina Burana

2019
Movie
113 min
English

A spectacular concert at the site of Beijing’s Forbidden City. The concert features the renowned Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Long Yu, who perform Orff’s Carmina Burana with Aida Garifullina, Toby Spence and Ludovic Tézier, before being joined by Daniil Trifonov for Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 and Mari Samuelsen for Max Richter’s Violin piece "November". Length 114′ (complete repertoire) / 71′ (Carmina Burana & Jasmine Flower Song) / 43′ (Piano Concert & November)

Insights

Director: Xie Jin (Concert Director)Genres: Classical Music, Concert Film, Choral

Plot Summary

This spectacular concert film captures a live performance of Carl Orff's iconic "Carmina Burana" at the historic Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. Led by acclaimed conductor Li Xincao, the performance features the combined might of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the powerful voices of the Shanghai Opera House Choir and the China National Opera House Choir. The visually stunning production brings the dramatic and primal energy of this beloved 20th-century masterpiece to life within a majestic setting.

Critical Reception

As a filmed concert of a well-established classical work, "The Forbidden City Concert: Carmina Burana" generally received positive attention for its ambitious scale and the high caliber of its performers and venue. Critics and audiences often highlighted the powerful rendition of Orff's score, the impressive vocal performances from the combined choirs, and the atmospheric setting of the Forbidden City Concert Hall. The production was praised for successfully translating the visceral impact of a live Carmina Burana performance to the screen.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for a grand and powerful interpretation of Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana'.

  • Commended the impressive vocal force of the combined Chinese choirs.

  • Highlighted the unique and atmospheric setting of the Forbidden City Concert Hall.

Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for this particular concert film is not readily available. However, general reception for high-quality classical concert recordings often focuses on the fidelity of the audio-visual presentation and the emotional impact of the performance.

Fun Fact

Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' is famously based on a manuscript of medieval poems and songs discovered in 1803, the texts of which are largely secular, dealing with themes of fate, love, revelry, and the transience of life.

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