Duke Chorale, Durham Medical Orchestra, and SONAM: Carmina Burana and New American Choral Works
Prepare for an unforgettable evening of monumental sound as the Duke Chorale, SONAM (Singers of New and Ancient Music), and the Durham Medical Orchestra join forces for a spectacular concert celebrating nature, renewal, and the vibrant energy of springtime. This large-scale collaboration brings together musicians from across the Triangle to perform some of the most iconic and emotionally charged music in the choral-orchestral repertoire.
At the heart of the program is Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, a work whose explosive rhythms, driving percussion, and soaring choral writing have captivated audiences for generations. From the thunderous opening chorus "O Fortuna" to its delicate, intimate middle movements, Orff's masterpiece paints a vivid portrait of fate, fortune, love, and the turning of the seasons-a musical ritual that pulses with life and raw human expression.
The first half of the concert features choral works by modern American composers Guarionex Morales-Matos, Allan Friedman, and Reyna Alston, with the final two pieces conducted by the composers themselves. Morales-Matos blends the passionate with the reverent in Cumbanchero and Ave Maria. Allan Friedman's Prelude and Fugue on Three Psalms draws on devotional Hebrew prayer modes with the vocal writing of Schütz and Bach.
Adding to the evening's significance is the world premiere of Dialogues from the Garden by composer Reyna Alston. This new work-rooted in themes of growth, contemplation, and the natural world-introduces a fresh artistic voice and expands the program's celebration of springtime into new, imaginative terrain.
Set within the resonant grandeur of Baldwin Auditorium, this concert promises sweeping drama, luminous choral textures, and an exhilarating convergence of musical communities. It is a rare opportunity to experience beloved masterworks and a major new premiere in a single, powerful evening.
Vocal Soloists Include:
Clara Rottsolk, Soprano (Duke University)
Timothy Sparks, Tenor (UNC Chapel Hill)
Ted Federle, Baritone (Duke University)
Free and open to the public. All are welcome.
