The Hattiesburg Choral Union, in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Civic Chorale and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony, will perform Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana on March 15 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will take place at The Meridian Gulf Coast Community College Immersive Media Performing Arts Center in Gulfport.
The performance will feature over 200 voices and is expected to last close to two hours. Multiple ensembles make up the Hattiesburg Choral Union, including The Southern Chorale, Concert Choir, University Treble Chorus, and Tenebrae. Members of the Hattiesburg community are also invited to participate in the union.
The Gulf Coast Civic Chorale is composed of Southern Miss students from the Gulf Park campus as well as community members from the surrounding area. Ticket prices range from $27.75 to $75, depending on seating preferences.
“We’ve definitely been working really hard in order to prepare for the concert,” said Braelyn Brewer, a sophomore music education major.
Brewer, a member of The Southern Chorale, noted that the group has been rehearsing weekly since the previous semester.
“We even had a rehearsal in Wiggins at the end of winter break, and we have another the week before the concert,” she said. “It’s been a lot of rehearsals and preparation, but I know the end result will be worth it.”
Carmina Burana, composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936, is based on 24 medieval poems that date back to the 11th through 13th centuries. The work covers themes that are still relevant today, such as the unpredictability of wealth, the nature of life, and the perils of sinning. The composition features 25 movements divided into five major sections. Its opening movement, “O Fortuna,” is widely recognized and has been used in movies, commercials, and television shows.
“I’m excited to be able to perform such a powerful yet classic piece,” said Emma Walker, a sophomore vocal performance major, who is also a member of The Southern Chorale.
She said the union typically performs major works during the spring semester.
“Last year, we performed The Messiah, which was an incredible experience,” she said. “Getting to take on Carmina Burana is an opportunity that I’m grateful for.”
