In 1980, Carl Orff, already over 80 years old, was sitting and listening live to “O Fortuna” (from the work "Carmina Burana"), performed by the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Riccardo Muti. He appears moved and satisfied as he hears his most famous composition being performed. "Carmina Burana" is a collection of medieval songs covering a wide range of topics, heavily influenced by ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Upon discovering these poems, the composer Carl Orff was deeply inspired and began sketching the first musical outlines of what would become his most famous work. “O Fortuna” which serves as both the opening and closing movement of this cantata-like work, means “O Fortune.” It is a lament about the inescapable power of fate.