Customer Reviews

Orff: Carmina Burana / Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Getting both Carmina Burana and Beethoven's Choral Symphony on one DVD is already a bargain, but wait until you see and hear the performances. They are amazing! Seiji Osawa is a treat to watch. He is such an expressive conductor. The excellent choir in Carmina Burana sings from memory and their voices blend beautifully, even their expressions show that they are having fun singing it. The soloists are great and they also sing with much feeling. I could hardly believe that there was another large piece on the same DVD and I must say it is an exciting 9th! Again Seiji Osawa chooses great tempi and I loved this very different work as much as the first. It was very interesting to hear such different orchestras and choirs, which don't normally come here, and to enjoy their music. The sound is really very good as are the images if played on a decent player. I recommend this DVD very highly.

A wonderful DVD! I think both Orff and Beethoven would have been pleased with Ozawa's interpretation of these works.

This DVD presents Seiji Ozawa conducting both Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" in 1989 in Berlin (with the Berliner Philarmoniker and the Shin-Yu Chorus of Japan) and also Beethoven's 9th Symphony in 2001? in Tokyo (with the Saito Kinen Orchestra and the Tokyo Opera Singers). In addition, the Orff work has guess soloist Kathleen Battle, Frank Lepardo (tenor), and Thomas Allen (baritone). The soloist for the Beethoven work are Anne Schwanewilms,(soprano), Barbara Dever (alto), Paul Groves (tenor) and Franz Hawlata (bass).

A fabulous performance of Orff's work. Ozawa's animated conducting style is able to get the best out of this orchestra and chorus. Allen's baritone voice is well suited for this work; while Kathleen Battle gives a smooth, emotional performance. Her voice is just so pure, her singing almost effortless, that she simply stands apart in this cast of great singers. (While watching this performance I began to wonder how much time must have been spent in rehearsals in preparing this huge Japanese chorus to sing in Italian. Whatever difficulties (if any), Ozawa pulls off this Herculean task with considerable aplomb).

The 9th Symphony by Beethoven is every bit as good as the Orff. With the difference of 11-12 years between these two recordings Ozawa has become decidedly grayer, and with a look of seasoned mastery about him. However, with age, his conducting skills seem even better. He controls his orchestra/chorus with a raise of a finger here, a look of an eye or a nod of a head there; but he's always in charge and with impeccable timing.

The camera work and editing was first rate in both performances; moving and switching to the next instrument/singer(s) was done with accuracy and great effect. There is a wonderful balance in this video with respect to the amount of time showing the orchestra/chorus verses Ozawa. (I think back to some of the Von Karajan "legacy" DVD's and how much time seemed to be taken up showing the conductor rather that the orchestra). The audio is also top notch.

Highlight of the disc:

So many to choose from, but I'd have to pick Kathleen Battle's rendition of "Dulcissime" from "Carmina Burana" (cut 24 on the disc): 49 seconds of the purest voice and sweetest sounds you'll probably ever hear in your lifetime. (As an aside, notice the violin player just off Battle's right elbow during this aria; I think he was entranced with this performance)

All in all, two great pieces of music that are performed as well as I could ever has hoped for. But make no mistake about it, this DVD is as much about Ozawa as it is the music being played; a legacy, if you will, profiling his talents and skills as a conductor that have accumulated over a long career. Highly recommended.

For my nearly 80 years of age,I have a rather large DVD collection and even a larger VHS collection that goes back more than 40 years.

I am not a too emotional person, but this particular DVD had me crying real tears of aesthetic emotion, as I listen and viewed both,Carmina Burana and Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 of this particular DVD.

I have no musical background and I guess I wouldn't know what might be considered a great interpretation of a perfect musical
rendition. But I have over my many years, have attended and heard and seen many of the "Greats" of Classical musical performance. This paricular DVD is by far the most inspiring and most (emotional) moving (musical) experience of all my life. OZAWA is near my age now and is no longer conducting. Because of THIS particular DVD, I have since ordered as many DVD recordings of OZAWA's conducting, as I can afford.

Of all the (thousands) DVD's and VHS that I own, THIS particular DVD is my most treasured visual and audio experience.

J. Levin

I purchased those 2 performances on laserdiscs 15 years ago and enjoyed the concerts despite the flat sound and average video quality .Unfortunately,the video quality and sound are just as bad on DVD!! (despite DTS remaster).I expected so much more from Philips.I wish there was a newer version of the Carmina Burana on DVD;it is such a masterpiece and it deserves the very best audio/video recording quality.

Excellent music performed by a stellar group of singers. My personal favorite is Orff's "Carmina Burana". The soloists were quite impressive. Kathleen Battle's "Dulcissimi" brings me to tears. I'd give this DVD five stars just to hear that small part. Enjoy!

The Carmina Burana by Orff is astounding. Ozawa does an amzing job with this work!! Kathleen Battle's voice is so radiant and wonderful for this soprano solo. Frank Lopardo is also wonderful in this extremely taxing solo for tenor (repeated high "D's") that's a scary thought. My personal favorite is Thomas Allen!!! This baritone has such a dark, velvety tone...his "In taberna" solo is glorious!!! It's a baritone solo with repeated high "A's". Wow!! The Beethoven Symphony No. 9 is also breathtaking! Ozawa leads an amazing performance with the Saito Kinen Orchestra. The soloists for this performance are also great, especially tenor Paul Groves!! Great DVD performance!!!

THE JAPANESE CHOIR DO AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THE LATIN AND LOW GERMAN.

THE SOLOISTS ARE ALSO EXCELLENT .

ONLY REASON I DID NOT GUVE 5 STARS IS BECAUSE NO SUBTITLES WERE AVAILABLE.

JASCONS

I have performed Carmina Burana several times, and heard countless renditions and interpretations, and this is so far my favorite. From beginning to end, Ozawa elicits the perfect performance from all the musicians - in the orchestra, the choruses, and the soloists. Ms Battle delivers stunning clarity in her solos; In Trutina, especially.

Having experienced many different versions (conductor/singers/orchestra)of this piece, I can easily state this one is the best of all! Great conductor, orchestra, chorus and featured singers; the interpretation is incredibly sensitive to the moods of the composer.

(I would have liked english subtitles, to avoid reference to the latin text, but this is a minor distraction.)

Not every DVD disk presents all aspects of production with such high quality as this rendition of Carmina Burana. One becomes fully connected. Mesmerizing is the word.