ORFF, Carl (1895-1982)

     Carmina burana - Cantata (1937)

        Ozawa, Berlin Phil.                     (LD) Philips 070231
          Battle, Lopardo, Allen                 CD not available
        Ormandy, Philadelphia Orch.                       CBS 44899
          Harsanyi, Petrak, Presnell
        R.F. de Burgos, New Philharmonia Orch.           EMI 764328
          Popp, Unger, Wolansky
        Previn, London Sym.                              EMI 566899
          Armstrong, English, Allen

        This work depends on the soloists  as much as  on the other
forces  involved  in  the  performance, and  Orff  demands  to  the
soloists  are not small. The orchestral and choral parts  are  also
huge.  Its  recording is no easy task. As a result, many recordings
of this work fail.
        Ozawa  conducts  the best recording of this work,  a  video
from  the  concert of december 31, 1989. The singers are fantastic,
the orchestra exciting, the choir precise, and the sound excellent.
His  CD  on  Philips  is a recording without audience,  with  other
singers and a different result.
        The  1960  CBS recording by Ormandy  was the  first  in  my
collection  and  remains a strong competitor.  Rafael  Fruhbeck  de
Burgos recorded it for EMI in 1966 and Previn in 1975 also for EMI,
both equally successful.

© Copyright 2000 Amilcar Schiappe Pereira          End of section O