The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jader Bignamini, presents Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," one of the most concise choral works of the 20th century. Based on medieval texts from the Benediktbeuren monastery, Orff shaped them into a scenic cantata with striking rhythmic and tonal directness. The work unfolds a series of contrasting images: from archaic power and dance-like energy to moments of intimacy and irony. Chorus and percussion, supplemented with two pianos and celesta, characterize the distinctive sound, while recurring motifs link the various scenes together. Between song-like passages, ostinato structures, and sharp solo numbers emerges a layered dramaturgy that finds its formal framework in the reappearance of "O Fortuna".