Cooperation between FABW and the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra
Film Music students at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg are composing an orchestral suite for the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra
Archaic power, rhythmic energy and overwhelming sonority: in 2027, Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ will celebrate its 90th anniversary. To mark this occasion, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW) is collaborating with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra. Students from the Film Music study course are composing a half-hour suite, inspired by the world of Orff’s famous symphonic choral work. The world premiere will take place in June next year as part of the ‘90 Years of Carmina Burana’ anniversary concert on 18 June 2027 at the Liederhalle concert hall in Stuttgart, and on 19 June 2027 as part of the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele music festival at the Forum am Schlosspark.
With their orchestral suite, the film music students at FABW are forging their own path into the world of ‘Carmina Burana’: into the Middle Ages, between monastic cells and wine jugs, spring awakenings and love, happiness and fate. Drawing on the ideas conveyed by the historical texts, they are developing their own musical language, shaped by the art of (cinematic) storytelling.
“Film music and classical concert music have one thing in common: they stir emotions. The cooperation with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra offers our students a unique opportunity to bring their own musical signature to life with a large orchestra. It exemplifies our commitment to combining artistic training, creative freedom and collaboration with outstanding cultural institutions,” says Professor Dr Andreas Bareiß, Managing Director of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
Meike Katrin Stein, senior lecturer on the Film Music course, adds: “At a time when digital music production has become an integral part of everyday life in film music, this cooperation with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra stands as a beacon for that unique moment when music written on sheet music is brought to life by a live orchestra.”
With ‘Carmina Burana’, Carl Orff created one of the world’s most popular choral works. He drew his inspiration from a collection of medieval songs and poems preserved at Benediktbeuern Abbey. Since its world premiere in 1937, this powerful composition – with its instrumentation for choir, children’s choir, three solo voices and orchestra – has captivated music lovers of all generations. The opening chorus ‘O Fortuna’ in particular has long been recognised far beyond the concert hall and features as a soundtrack in commercials, TV series and films – arguably most impressively in the epic fantasy film EXCALIBUR (1981), in which director John Boorman has King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table ride out through blossoming cherry groves to their final battle to the strains of ‘O Fortuna’.