Leeds Met Culture: Carmina Burana

On Sunday evening, the celebratory mood at Leeds Met continued with a music concert. In the first half, the Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra, directed by Brendan Duffy, played a variety of popular pieces, adapted and arranged for the orchestra. They played very enthusiastic, with great professionalism. Their performance concluded with "My favorite things" from "The Sounds of Music".

After the break, the main work of the evening was performed: "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff. More than 25 years ago, in March 1981, I had been captivated by a televised recording of a performance of this work in a choreography by John Cranko. Also, in Latin class, we were translating parts of it.

This Sunday, the Leeds Met Singers performed the choral parts of this work, directed by Andrew Dean and accompanied by 5 percussionists, 2 piano players, and two solists from Opera North. The two pianists Matthew Bilyard and San Lau, both young students at the Manchester Grammar School, did an outstanding job in this performance, driving the melody and providing the harmonic carpestry.



During the intermission, mulled wine ("Gluehwein") was served together with a seasonal Yorkshire holiday treat: fruitcake with a slice of Wensleydale cheese.