Carmina Burana taken off stage in Turkey after 'complaint' citing sex, wine

ISTANBUL

Antalya Symphony Orchestra performs Carmina Burana April 30, 2015. AA photo

The world-renowned composition Carmina Burana, planned to be staged in Turkey’s western province of İzmir, was canceled due to “technical reasons,” after prominent Turkish pianist and composer Fazıl Say said the piece contained sections about “sex and wine.” Say’s remarks came in response to the removal of his own piece in favor of Carmina Burana in the Antalya Symphony Orchestra’s program, daily Cumhuriyet reported. 

The İzmir State Opera and Ballet General Directorate (İDOBGM) canceled the “Carmina Burana Stage Cantata,” citing “technical reasons.” The piece, composed by German Carl Orff, was set to be staged at İzmir’s Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center on May 2. 

Say wrote an op-ed for daily Cumhuriyet on April 29, entitled “Culture Ministry, Wine and Sex,” about how Carmina Burana’s Latin words are on wine, sex and passion. The article appeared after the Antalya Symphony Orchestra removed Say’s “Nazım Orotorio” from its program and replaced it with “Carmina Burana.” 

In an ironic twist, the canceled “Carmina Burana” was replaced by Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” (Clowns).