Customer Reviews

Orff: Carmina Burana

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Aside from being the first ever recording of Carl Orff's masterpiece, the music and sound quality are fantastic. Fritz Mahler (related to the legendary Gustav Mahler), took the HSO to new heights when he recorded a series of albums for Vanguard at The Bushnell in Hartford. This was a major highlight in the history of the HSO and worth a listen. Also look for the HSO's recording of Henry Purcell's "Four suites For Strings."

Fritz Mahler and the Hartford Symphony made some recordings for Vanguard in the late 50s, and all of them are worthwhile.

This issue was the first good-sounding Carmina--maybe the first good-sounding Orff--available in this country, and relistening proves the old effort is holding its own.

The soloists are outstanding, especially in singing with comprehension of the text, and the orchestral execution is more than up to demand. Mahler has some fun with the piece, conducting it as the cantata it is, with a tight view of the whole production...often this work tends to part out as a choral suite...and as such, can get a little wearing. The alert chorus also shows good training and attention to text.

I'd put this a tad bit behind Dorati and Stokowski, for example, where the overall effect is stupendous. But it seems to me that Mahler and the Hartford contingent get more from the material in understanding than either Jochum effort, Fruhbeck, Ormandy, or certainly Ozawa and his drab Big Brother Boston effort from down the road.

In short, every lover of Orff should have this very musical and nicely recorded performance in his library.