WORK OF THE WEEK – CARL ORFF: DE TEMPORUM FINE COMOEDIA

25 Jul 2022

What if our world ended tomorrow? Should the extinction of his own creation occur, the biblical God does not shrink, a concept depicted multiple times in the Old Testament. Carl Orff’s “Play of the End of Times” De temporum fine comoedia embodies this existential idea in its production premiere by Romeo Castellucci on 26 July 2022 as part of the Salzburger Festspiele. Under the musical direction of Theodor Currentzis, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, music, Aeterna Choir, Bach Choir Salzburg as well as the Salzburger Festspiele and Theater Kinderchor will bring this new interpretation to the mighty Felsenreitschule.

The end of the world with a (close) happy ending - Carl Orff’s De temporum fine comoedia

Surrounding the Last Judgement, Orff’s De temporum fine comoedia tells the story of a group of prophetesses who proclaim an impending end of the world. Despite a resounding contradiction from the anchorites, the last people pray to God in panic before Lucifer, the ‘bringer of light’, oversees a smooth conclusion to the opera. Orff’s musical conception of an impending end of the world is not only complex but, in keeping with the narrative, exercises a rapidly building intensity. His score encompasses a large orchestra with three pianos, harps, celesta and organ, a strong percussion section and multiple divided choirs, whilst simultaneously combining contrasting tonal and movement systems.

Should we invent a new word for this art? “Music” actually means little [...]. “Harmony” could be represented, in the sense that the Greeks attributed to the word: as a term for the balanced unification of all artistic means. Rudolf Klein

Following the premiere, De temporum fine comoedia will be performed on 31 July, 2 August, 6 August, 15 August and 20 August at this year’s Salzburger Festspiele.