Carmina Burana Comes to Cuenca: 150+ Artists, Two Nights Only (March 6–7)
Chip Moreno
This Is the Cultural Event of the Month
If you see one performance in Cuenca this season, make it this one.
Carmina Burana — Carl Orff's thundering 1937 cantata based on 13th-century poems about fate, love, drinking, and the wheel of fortune — is coming to Cuenca on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at the Teatro Casa de la Cultura.
And this isn't a small production. We're talking over 150 artists on stage.
What You'll See
The performance brings together:
- Cuenca Symphony Orchestra (Orquesta Sinfónica de Cuenca)
- University of Cuenca Polyphonic Choir
- Conservatory Youth Choir
- Children's Choir
- Dance ensemble
- National soloists
All under the direction of Maestro William Vergara, with the production organized by the Conservatorio José María Rodríguez to celebrate its 88th anniversary.
This is the kind of performance that would cost you $80–$150 in any US city. In Cuenca, it's $10.
The Music
Even if you don't know the name "Carmina Burana," you know the music. The opening and closing chorus — "O Fortuna" — is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music ever written. You've heard it in movies, commercials, sports broadcasts, and basically every dramatic montage ever produced.
But the full cantata is much more than that one chorus. It's divided into sections covering:
- Fortune and fate (the famous O Fortuna)
- Springtime and nature (surprisingly tender)
- Drinking songs (medieval poets loved taverns)
- Love and desire (some of it quite cheeky for 1937)
- The return of fate (O Fortuna again, because fate always wins)
It's dramatic, beautiful, funny, and powerful — often in the same ten minutes. The combination of full orchestra, massed choirs, soloists, and dance makes it a genuinely overwhelming sensory experience.
Practical Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, March 6 & Saturday, March 7, 2026 |
| Time | 8:00 PM both nights |
| Venue | Teatro Casa de la Cultura (Av. Solano & 12 de Abril) |
| General admission | $10 |
| VIP | $15 |
| Duration | Approximately 60–75 minutes |
Where to Buy Tickets
Tickets are available at three locations:
- Conservatorio José María Rodríguez (the music conservatory)
- Almacenes La Victoria — Centro location and Mall del Río location
- Almacén El Surtido
For a production of this scale at these prices, tickets will move. Don't assume you can buy at the door — get them this week.
Why This Matters
Cuenca punches way above its weight culturally. A city of 600,000 people staging a full Carmina Burana with 150+ performers, professional soloists, and a symphony orchestra is remarkable. This is the kind of production that reminds you why you moved here.
The Conservatorio José María Rodríguez has been training musicians in Cuenca since 1938. This 88th anniversary concert isn't just a performance — it's a statement about what this city's musical tradition can produce.
Getting There
The Teatro Casa de la Cultura is on Avenida Solano at 12 de Abril — the same cultural complex that hosts the symphony's regular season. Take the tranvía to the Solano stop, or grab a taxi. Arrive by 7:30 PM. There's no assigned seating for general admission, so earlier is better.
Source: El Mercurio
