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Orff: Carmina Burana (Essential Classics)
Orff, Harsanyi, Petrak
Orff: Carmina Burana (Essential Classics)
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (26) - Disc #1

Compared with some of the digitally recorded versions of Carmina Burana currently in circulation, this one has fairly archaic sonics. Nonetheless, the Philadelphia Orchestra is playing the tunes, and they don't miss a tric...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Orff, Harsanyi, Petrak, Presnell, Ormandy
Title: Orff: Carmina Burana (Essential Classics)
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 3
Label: Sony
Release Date: 1/3/1992
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 074644766820

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Compared with some of the digitally recorded versions of Carmina Burana currently in circulation, this one has fairly archaic sonics. Nonetheless, the Philadelphia Orchestra is playing the tunes, and they don't miss a trick. Ormandy was never one to sensationalize a score, especially not one with so many sensations built in. Here, he simply stands back and lets his band play it, which they do quite commendably. There are a lot of "young" voices in the chorus, which is a plus in this piece, and the singing is fresh and light, both in spirit and in sound. The soloists show that you don't have to be slumming opera stars or lieder singers to do justice to the music; indeed, the lack of pretense and hot-dogging in their renditions is downright refreshing. In spite of the tape hiss and a slight graininess to the treble, the recording is spacious and well balanced. Unfortunately, there is no text, no translation. --Ted Libbey

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Member CD Reviews

B. Jason O. (panicBoy) from MANCHESTER, NH
Reviewed on 4/20/2007...
O Fortuna! The definitive classic 1960 recording of Orff's secular masterpiece.

CD Reviews

Good in its day, but there are better ones out there
drfizz | Florida, USA | 01/12/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of the famous Carmina Burana by Orff was excellent when it was originally released I'm sure, but the sonic quality really detracts from the fine performance. Get Andre Previn with the London Symphony Orchestra or James Levine with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, both are high calibur performances and both have great sonic quality."
One Of The Great Recordings Of Carmina Burana
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 03/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ormandy's 1960 recording of Orff's Carmina Burana has aged gracefully, though I wish there was some improvement in its sound quality. Still, the current recording sounds fine, though it might not meet the high standards of a zealous audiophile. Incidentally, it is still regarded in the latest edition of the Penguin Guide to Classical CDs as one of the best recordings ever of this work. I'm not surprised, since both the chorus and the Philadelphia Orchestra give exciting, vibrantly warm performances. An earlier reviewer thought Ormandy's tempi were a bit sluggish, but they sound just right to me. Without question, this is still an excellent acquisition, and quite literally, a steal. I strongly recommend acquiring this CD even with its slight sound quality problems."