Winston C. (crabby-doctor) from LINCOLN, NE Reviewed on 11/30/2010...
This is one of my favorite compositions! Another review that said the volume levels between the various segments of music on this particular performance/recording varies such that you have to turn it up and down a bit to enjoy it is true. That is not a reason not to enjoy this particular performance greatly, however! I plan to keep it in my library and play it quite a few times.
CD Reviews
Among the best
Robert E. Metz | Florence, OR USA | 01/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't claim to be an expert, but I do have an appreciation for great music. I compare various renditions of my favorite works and own several versions of those which truly touch me. I have purchased a number of highly rated examples of Carmina Burana, but this cd is among my favorite recordings of all time. However, don't waste your money unless you have a very good music system. The album has a huge degree of dynamic range - making the soft passages truly gentle and the intense passages a real workout for even the best speakers. Throughout it all the musicality is always outstanding. I love it!"
Good, But Not Excellent
Kevin L. Nenstiel | Kearney, Nebraska | 02/25/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The principal fault with this one is that Ozawa seems to fall into the trap of believing that fast equals better in romantic-style music. Parts of the piece are well-done, and the final two tracks played together are very enjoyable even for this recent convert to classical music, but far too often he seems to rap the sound out at too rapid a clip, overpowering the intrinsic quality of the music with his desire to impress through speed. (I apologize if my review is too general for a classical-music audience, but as I say I'm a recent convert, and perhaps my review will do some good for someone as wet behind the ears as I am.)"
Carmina Burana
Richard Rimbaugh | New York City | 11/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was a big fan of Ozawa when he conducted the Boston Philharmonic.Having been a student at the New England Conservatory of Music I regularily attended his concerts there and at Tanglewood.I have heard his performances of this piece with two other symphonies but none have had the dynamic range or power of the Berlin set.I strongly recommend this recording for superior quality of sound and especially if you already like the exuberance and aggressive conducting style in the Karajan/Berstein tradition!"
Not Good Enough!
Kevin L. Nenstiel | 11/01/1998
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Even though the voices are indeed worth the music, the tempo given to the music is a little too fast. Ozawa does not stress the proper notes nor does he give the exact time for each to take its own importance. Instead he hauls one over the other, it's like he cuts the breath out of certain notes. If you want to hear a good Carmina Burana interpretation you should hear the one conducted by Antal Dorati with the Royal Philarminic Orchestra, the Brighton Festival Choir, Norma Burrowes, Louis Devos, and John Shirley-Quirk. This was recorded in 1976 in London, UK."