Customer Reviews

Orff: Carmina Burana

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

 

 

I have long been a fan of Carmina Burana and of the ASO. I bought this CD specifically to get an idea of the influence of new blood on the ASO, as I am no fan of Joel Levi (the previous principal conductor) and had heard many good things about Donald Runnicles. I was terribly disappointed to find that the performance is good, but far from great. I was most surprised to find that the worst of the deficiencies were in the chorus, long among the strongest in the nation. The orchestral preparation was excellent, but unnecessarily restrained. The soloists were quite good, but not spectacular. The chorus was often muddy and indistinct. On the Shaw ASO recording, the chorus was crisp and nearly perfect, but this CD suffers from technical problems in the recording of the chorus. The singers are often too low in the mix, and there is not enough clarity and punch in the all-important speech definition range (2-6kHz) to let their consonants come through clearly.

This is not a bad recording, but it simply does not live up to the potential of either the chorus, the orchestra, or the piece. It is simply too restrained on the part of the orchestra and too unclear on the part of the chorus. The first is a matter of the conductor's interpretation, but the second is a problem in engineering and mixing.

This is a good debut for the Atlanta Symphony's new Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles. I like his interpretation of the piece. It is energetic and expressive. The soloists are generally good. The tenor does struggle on his extremly difficult part. The others are good. The Atlanta Symphony Chorus is spectacular as always...Mr. Mackenzie has done a wonderful job where Mr. Shaw tragically left off. The Robert Shaw version of this piece, incidentally, may have an edge over this one. This is definatly worth a listen though. The talented Runnicles does shine here and has made himself a name in Atlanta...San Fran. being his first home. Worth a listen!!

I had the privilege of being a member of the children's chorus that sings on several of the tracks. Now, several years later with experience with numerous other professional choral groups under my belt, I still look back on this recording as the best choral excperience of my life.

The soloists have been described as weak in places, which I find a true assessment. However, the soloists that are on the recording were added at the last moment, after scathing reviews of the concert soloists. While this is certainly not an excuse for the somewhat lackluster performance, it is then easy to understand the soloists' degree of uncomfortability with the chorus and orchestra.

Although the technical recording difficulties are evident, this recording still shines above it in my mind. The power of the chorus transcends any of the other problems with the soloists or recording devices. The sonority and tone of the chorus and recording as a whole is well worth the price of the cd. Compared to other recordings of Carmina, this one has such a high feeling of energy that cannot help but touch the listener. Overall, a very good recording. Well worth the price.

That one review about breaking the CD that's pretty dumb. Now, for some of the other people that are talking about the tenor solos, I would like to see you people sing this extremely high line. Beside I have read through my reviews that Orff had written #12 Olim lacus colueram high should a high range not because it sound pretty but because he found the tenor voice when reaching for notes quite appealing there. Plus the song is about being a swan, swan don't make the most beautiful sounds. So there. Sorry but I had to defend the singers because people don't understand all of the studying and practice behind it.
Other wise this CD has a lot of good foot tapping and emotional moments like any other good piece of well performed music. The soprano soloist is fabulous. She is someone that makes you drop your jaw. I believe that the rest of the soloist pull their weight in this rendition of a classic.

I've read enthusiastic reviews about this recording so I've bought it in expectation of something special. Unfortunately it is an average, "middle of the road" performance. As MildCritter wrote: "the performance is good, but far from great".

What I like in it is the contrasts between the different moods. Runnicles takes the peaceful parts slowly which is in good contrast with joyful parts (e.g. in the 9th track). But apart from it the tempos are mainly average. The soloist are good especially the bariton who sings as an opera actor. (Although I don't like his high tones.)

The big problem is that chorus is too far for my taste and the orchestra is almost unaudible in some parts (except the timpani and big drum). The recording lacks the colors of the orchestra and the beautiful orchestration. The sound of the orchestra is muddy (and the chorus too). The chorus sings from right and left mainly not center.

This performance is not bad at all but there is nothing special.

I don't own this CD, but I heard some exerpts on the radio. Even with the radio hiss, even with all the faults which may or may not be (see the other reviews), this piece has the emotional depth of few recordings. I particularly enjoy the Robert Shaw recording (the blind sun CD), and enjoy the paced and measured expression of the music. Here, the chorus and orchestra seems to be conducted with a similar style, but the soloists are on another planet! Yet on this other planet, they own it. They either are not listening to the conductor or the conductor is letting them to do their own thing. I really felt that the soloists were quite unique, in a complementary way, to the rest of the composition, which perhaps is in vibe with the original poetry, which as I remember was written a bunch of crazy religious vagabonds.

See my full review in the SACD version which closes, "Do not walk, do not run, do not even drive, but FLY to buy this recording." Those of you who have no SACD capability, this recording is the reason to spend the money. HEY, AMAZON! Combine these reviews.

Forcefull!!!!!! Outstanding performance!!!!!!!! Dam near blew the windows our of my car on trac 8!!!!!
Buy it you'll like it!!!!!!
I have five other versions of this work and this by far the BEST I have ever heard!!!!!!!
I can rattle my dishes on my home 'Mac' system as well!

The CD jewelcase gripped the CD so tightly that I broke it in two trying to extract it. (expletive deleted).