Customer Reviews

Orff: Carmina Burana

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

 

 

As wonderful as this recording is, it is unfortunate that Barbara Hendricks' contribution is not as good as her previous recording. She frequently sings off pitch and her final passage is painful on the ear.

'Carmina Burana' by Carl Orff is probably one of the two or three most popular cantatas ever written. I havn't done a count, but I suspect there may be as many recordings of it as for Handel's 'Messiah'. It makes one wonder why anyone would bother doing yet another recording of the work. I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that it is fun to do.

I have heard the work performed live several times and have heard several other recordings, most recently the effort lead by wunderkind, Andre Previn. And, while there is very little to choose between them, I think the Previn issue on DG is better, mostly for the quality of the vocalist's performances and the quality with which their singing was recorded.

WELSER-MOST IS REFLECTING ORFF'S MUSIC PRECISELY; IT'S WILD AND RAUCOUS FOR THESE MONKS WERE NOT NICELY! NICELY???!!!!

"Carmina Burana" means "Songs of Benediktbeuern" which was a collection of manuscripts that had been put together in the 13th century at the monastery of Benediktbeuern. They had been the repertoire of the vagrant monks of those far-off times. And as a reading of the text will prove, these wandering minstrels were not conventionally religious men. In fact they were much given to celebrating the pleasure of bed, board and bottle ; and were very satirical in their views of church and state. Now all this of course makes for riotous, raucous, loud and at times quite shocking music.

I own several recordings of this music and I tell you that this disc conducted by Franz Welser-Most does an almost uncanny job of conveying the meaning of the text. It is exciting, unpredictable and wildly descriptive. The soloists do a remarkable job in their particular contributions. In fact, every time I hear Michael Chance in a "new" framework I cannot help but marvel at what an intuitive musician he is, for his alto solo requires some very interesting manipulations of the voice and perfection is his name. The soprano solo "In Trutina" was sung very movingly by Barbara Hendricks and Jeffrfey Black did well portraying the rough mood demanded in some of his solos. All in all, whether you like Orff or not, and he's not my favorite composer by a long shot, the recording is well done!!!!!

Okay, so every performance of Orff's scenic cantata "Carmina Burana" always depends on the conductor's choice of tempi, energy, and grace. Franz Welser-Most is one of those conductors (along with Jochum and Muti) who believe that faster is better. Well, it shows. He handles the cantata with full verve and flair, though some orchestral parts may not sound so polished when the tempi is at its quickest. The London Philharmonic is as always beefed up with great skill and terrific emotion, while the soloists & choir are in top form (especially in In Taberna & Cour D'Amours).

Despite this stunning Carmina handled masterfully by Welser-Most, it still doesn't overpower other flawless recordings: Jochum, Dutoit, Thielemann, Muti, etc. Still, I highly recommend it. A-