North American premiere of La Fura dels Baus' 'Carmina Burana' at Artpark sells out

2,400 guests celebrate Carl Orff’s popular masterpiece in spectacular style

Press Release

The North American premiere of La Fura dels Baus’ production of “Carmina Burana” performed to a sell-out crowd of 2,400 at Artpark on Saturday, July 29, marking the return of opera to the performance venue after a three-decade hiatus.

“By all accounts, Saturday was a resounding success and turned a page in Artpark’s history, where opera and multiple artistic disciplines can be celebrated on a global scale,” Artpark President Sonia Clark said. “We are grateful to our artists, staff, funders, and the public for the support. It takes a very special community to lift a program such as we are having for our 50th season.”

Barcelona-based theatrical troupe La Fura dels Baus’ production of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” one of the most beloved and recognizable pieces of music ever composed, involved more than 200 performers from Western New York and around the world, including members of the Catalan troupe and director Carluss Padrissa, Tanzen Dance, a youth choir, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, all under the baton of Artpark Opera Curator and Conductor in Residence Gil Rose.

“I can’t think of a better way to bring back opera in Artpark style than with ‘Carmina Burana,’ á La Fura dels Baus,” Rose said. “The energy was palpable and the evening one to remember.”

This production marked an unforgettable moment in the storied venue’s 50th consecutive season of public art and performance.

“This was a one-night-only, once-in-a-lifetime performance,” Clark added, “but now our guests and patrons can count on a permanent home for opera here at Artpark.”