Dance and video effects will be taking Carmina Burana to new heights in Budapest. This season-opening show is premiering on Saturday, September 22nd at the Erkel Theatre, which is hosting performances of the Hungarian State Opera while the palatial Andrássy út building is under renovation. It’s the first time that this popular Carl Orff cantata features with such state-of-the-art technology, including video projections in 3D. In this grand presentation, a finely tuned synergy connects conductor, musicians and dancers.
Six projectors and a giant LED wall will bring to life Carmina Burana, a scenic piece based on a medieval collection of poetry. Dancers from the Hungarian National Ballet and an extensive choir front this modern-day production, created in collaboration with the local Freelusion group. The world’s first 3D dance troupe, Freelusion also appeared in the Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent television shows.
For creating this inaugural display, the group has been working hand-in-hand with globally acclaimed conductor Tibor Bogányi, producer Attila Könnyű, and organist and painter Ágnes Zászkaliczky.
Until October 7th, Budapest audiences can see this recreated version of Carmina Burana through seven slightly differing shows, each featuring improvised effects as dancers perform. As the choir follows the conductor and dancers move in accordance with the music, their reflective wristbands instigate varied visual projections on stage. This video mapping technique, worked out by the Freelusion team, includes a specialised software to mimic the real environment and turns objects into a display surface for projections.
Using mystic scenes through ancient symbols, paintings by Zászkaliczky and dance, Carmina Burana will reflect what Orff might have dreamed up when creating his monumental composition. After Saturday’s premiere, performances are scheduled for September 23rd, and then on October 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. For ticket information, visit the Opera website.
Before each show, the Bordó Sárkány Old Music Order presents a 15-minute performance of medieval melodies.
Carmina Burana is presented in the original languages with Hungarian and English surtitles.
