Orff: Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard; Slatkin

Carl Orff (Artist), Leonard Slatkin (Artist), Sylvia McNair (Artist), John Aler (Artist), Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (Artist), Hakan Hagegard (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 1994)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003FH3
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Voices > Baritones

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond a Doubt My Favorite!, September 5, 2003

By 

John P. Penning (Springfield, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Orff: Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard; Slatkin (Audio CD)

I am not a music scholar. I am not a musician. I am not a critic. What I am is a lover of music and especially of powerful and emotive music. I listen to music not to analyze but to FEEL! I fell in love with the Carmina Burana while in college many years ago. I have searched long and hard for ANY version that captures the raw energy and powerful emotions of the bookending piece, "O, Fortuna", as well as on this recording and have found none that meet the mark. The employment and use of a thunderous gong, performed with a flair unlike any other recording that I know of is worth the price of the CD in and of itself! If you as a listener wish to buy a recording of the Carmina Burana for analytical purposes, then I haven't a clue which version to purchase. However, if your aim is to to FEEL, to EXPERIENCE, to be ABSORBED by the Carmina, then look no further. This is the one. The ONLY one!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explosive "Carmina" From The Heartland Of America, September 5, 2004

By 

Erik North (San Gabriel, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Orff: Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard; Slatkin (Audio CD)

Carl Orff's hour-long cantata "Carmina Burana" must rank as the single most popular choral work of the 20th century. Because of this, of course, there have also been many recordings of it--dozens in fact, from Eugen Jochum's 1968 recording with the Deutsche Opera of Berlin, to Andre Previn's 1974 London Symphony recording, and beyond.

For my money, though (and this is not to take away from the other great recordings of the piece on hand), the most explosive recording of this piece comes from the heartland of America. With superior vocalists Sylvia McNair, Hakan Hagegard, and John Aler on hand, Leonard Slatkin leads his St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in this 1992 recording that generates much passion and violence with its mix of sacred Latin chants and sometimes politically incorrect and profane dialogue.

The recording is spectacular from start to finish, but there are moments that I think stand out especially: "Olim Lacus Colueram", done by Aler; Hagegard's solo turn on "Ego Sum Annad Cacaniensis"; McNair's on "Dulcissime"; and the St. Louis Chorus itself on "O Fortuna", which bookends this gigantic work. It is no wonder that its medieval sound and text inspired much in the way of movie music, including THE OMEN and even parts of the music for the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy ("O Fortuna", in fact, was used in the 1981 film EXCALIBUR).

This recording is vigorously recommended, even if you already own other recordings of it. Slatkin's interpretation stands up well compared with the many other fine recordings also available.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've heard a lot of them and this is the BEST!, November 12, 2000

By 

Greg McDonald "Mt. FUGE" (Green Bay, Wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Orff: Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard; Slatkin (Audio CD)

When I moved away to college I had to give up this CD which is owned by my father (an opera style bass-baritone himself). Figuring that I could just buy another one, or one like it at least, I decided to shop online. I studied each sample track of each CD closely and compared it to this recording, and, unsurprisingly, none of them were close enough to even consider. Quite frankly, the baritone is the best I've ever heard, the saprano is the best I've ever heard, and the tenor is also the best I've ever heard. And if that isn't good enough reason to buy it, then keep in mind that the conductor's impact regarding enphasis and tempo is perfect. Don't bother doubting me and just trust me; this is the best recording available.