Carmina Burana: Singing and Sinning

The UNAM Philharmonic's inaugural concert for the First Season of 2026 plays Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a cantata based on sinful poems.

OFUNAM 2026. FIRST SEASON. INAUGURAL CONCERT

The UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra (OFUNAM) started its first season of the year—which commemorates the orchestra's 90th anniversary—with Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. This scenic cantata is based on a selection of medieval poems composed into a musical piece between 1935 and 1936. Most of these poems were written in Latin, while others were written in Middle High German and Provençal. These verses tell stories about wine, gambling, sex, money, sensuality, and the fickleness of fortune; it is said that they were written by a group of rebel monks.

Carmina Burana consists of a prologue and three main parts. The cantata opens by reproaching fate for its capricious nature with “Fortune, Empress of the World”. “In Springtime” depicts the arrival of spring, moving from winter’s defeat to cheerful melodies. Next, the lyrics explore romantic and carnal love in “On the Lawn”. “In the Tavern” shares the story of a man who cannot control his carnal impulses and a roasted swan. Finally, in “The Court of Love”, a love story unfolds between the baritone and the soprano, culminating in a sexual union.

This concert was held at the Nezahualcóyotl Hall and conducted by guest conductor Luis Manuel Sánchez, featuring Arisbé de la Barrera as the soprano, Carlos Velázquez as the tenor, and Amed Liévanos as the baritone. They performed together with the UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra, the University Philharmonic Chorus, and the Children and Young Singers Choir of the UNAM Faculty of Music.

Text by: Fernanda Onofre Clavijo

English title CARMINA BURANA, OFUNAM 2026 First Season, Inaugural Concert
Original title CARMINA BURANA Concierto INAUGURAL OFUNAM 2026 Primera temporada
Original series title OFUNAM
Genre Classical Music
Recording location Sala Nezahualcóyotl. Centro Cultural Universitario, UNAM
Production year 2026
Duration 1:34:31
Production Company TV UNAM
Producer Alejandro Espinosa / Verónica Camberos
Orchestra / Band Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM (OFUNAM)