Carmina Burana by candlelight

An intimate choral explosion of fate, passion, and medieval poetry — in an atmospheric ancient church in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Feel the fire of fate and the pulse of human desire in this chamber performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana — brought to life by choral voices, soloists surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles, and the powerful resonance of a live pipe organ.

This London premiere offers a rare and intimate version of one of the most iconic works of the 20th century. A daring, visceral cantata based on 13th-century texts — part pagan, part sacred, part scandalous — Carmina Burana speaks to the eternal cycles of luck, lust, love, and loss.

Composed by Carl Orff in 1935–36, Carmina Burana is based on 24 poems from the medieval manuscript Codex Buranus, discovered in a Bavarian monastery in 1803. Orff’s bold choral writing and explosive rhythmic drive transformed these ancient texts into one of the most recognised classical works of our time — opening with the thunderous O Fortuna, a hymn to the cruelty and unpredictability of fate.

This concert follows the traditional three-part structure:
1. Spring’s Awakening
2. The Tavern
3. The Court of Love
Framed by a dramatic prologue and epilogue that remind us: the wheel of fortune never stops turning.

Newly adapted from original manuscripts and arranged specifically for this space, the programme offers a bold and emotionally charged experience that reveals the inner intensity of Orff’s vision.

Duration: 60 minutes (doors will open 30 mins prior to the scheduled start time and late entry is not permitted)

Age restriction: 6+

Doors open at least 30 minutes before the concert.

Out of respect for guests and performers, late entry may not be permitted. We cannot guarantee your original seats after the concert begins.