It’s possible, of course, that you have all seen this one already, but I do think this particular rendition of Carmina Burana, Flashmob-style, is rather gorgeous.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJNp5UKRtbQ&w=560&h=315]

Personally, my favourite part is when the dancers start, though the people trying to look nonchalant and unobtrusive while wheeling in great big kettle drums come a close second best.  And I like the middle-aged woman dissolving into laughter in the background.  Beautiful.  And it’s very well sung.

I sang Carmina Burana many years ago, in my university choir days.  I think everyone who has been in a university choir has sung Carmina at some point – it’s simple enough for people without much musical training, while being dramatic enough to be worth pulling together, and the lyrics are all about sex and booze.  You could say that the material is ideal for the average group of singing undergrads.

Also, everyone knows how the overture, “O Fortuna” goes.  It’s been heard in Excalibur, Hunt for Red October and Glee, among many, other films and TV shows, and in 2005, Carlton Draught, embracing the “booze” side of the equation, used it in a big ad, which, if you are one of the five people in Australia who hasn’t heard at, you really should have a look at, because it really is deservedly famous.

There are a lot of classical music flashmobs around.  If you are like me, you could easily lose an entire afternoon going from link to link around YouTube.  I’ll get you started with just one more – La Traviata with decoy soprano in a department store.  Enjoy!

(oh, OK, just one more, because it’s an absolutely gorgeous rendition of Habanero, and I know someone who is very fond of that aria indeed…)