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 Coming back home Dec 18, 2009
A friend of mine gave me this version as a gift. At first I wasn't sure it was the version i wanted because it wasn't like the first version I heard. However, after listening to it more closely and listening to about 6 other versions PLUS all the samples available on Amazon - I've decided to come back home to this CD.
There are other performances where I may like another baritone, tenor or soprano slightly more. Having said that, this is the only recording that has all of the tempos exactly where I want them, the interpretations exactly as they should be, and the chorus has a full, rich sound. So if I had to rate this cd on all of the different factors I was looking for in a recording - it gets my vote. In a perfect world, I could just compile pieces and parts of several different recordings and get the "perfect" one. As that isn't really feasible - this is the best I've found so far.
I also recommend the Shaw/Atlanta symphony as a 9 out of 10 rating. The recording is fantastic - although I have to say the tenor is a bit icky on that one. I've heard a few London Symphony, Oper Berlin, and Wiener Philharmonic that are okay also. But this version is the one I kept comparing the others too and there'd always be something not quite right...In Taberna Quando Sumus would be too wimpy or O Fortuna too slow *shudder*. So it's a close race between this one and Shaw/Atlanta. If I could substitute the tenor out of the Shaw...this one would take 2nd place.
Sure would love to know if Karajan ever recorded Carmina tho.... that'd be something to hear!!!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Off-Orff Jun 19, 2009
3 1/2
There is a reason the powerful theme sandwiched between this opera sticks out like a sore thumb. Even with beguiling vocal work and at least some impressive composition, much of what lies in between does not burrow into memory nearly as much.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Phenomenal and over the top Mar 19, 2008
This is the first Carmina Burana I heard, so I'm attached to it, and a little biased. After listening to a number of recordings out there, I'd say that it's still my favorite as far as intensity and passion--some of the tempi are a little far out, but I think that suits the spirit of the piece. McNair and Hagegard are phenomenal, and the tenor Aler acquits himself well with this insanely ranging tenor solo.
I think it's an excellent first recording, but perhaps not *absolute* perfection. The cover is a bit silly, but perhaps the composer would approve--it is, after all, a ribald and orgiastic romp through some very sensual text and music.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
The Best Carmina Burana Jan 24, 2007
1. The work is very similar to an opera, highly dramatic and driven by text.
2. Opera is about voices, and this recording of Carmina has bar none the best collection of soloists on record.
3. While I do not consider myself an expert in orchestral sound or conducting, in my opinion the orchestra and chorus sound very good, not perfect, but very good. It seems to me that the style of this work does not call for an overly "constructed" sound from the orchestra. If you peruse the text you might gleen a little insight, as form should follow function. IMHO the sound from the orchestra and chorus are fitting for the meaning they are trying to convey.
4. Several people have given this recording bad ratings, and yet there seem to be a lack of noted material defect. If you think Slatkin's conducting is so bad, please fill us all in on why. Neurotic posts such as:
ONE OF THE WORST PERFORMENCES OF THIS WORK THAT THERE IS.IT IS AS IF SLATKIN WERE CONDUCTING THE SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY WITH A HORROR MOVIE IN FRONT OF THEM.GET OZOWA/BOSTON SYNPHONY 1969 CLASSIC PERFORMENCE AND CHARLES DUTIOT/MONTREAL SYNPHONY
don't do much - and perhaps you could also do us all the favor of reaching your uncoordinated left hand pinky finger to the left of the A button and turning off caps lock, along with taking some spelling lessons. That would be just super. Thanks.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The Best Carmina Burana recording Jan 09, 2007
I have attended concerts, owned vinyls, owned taped versions and have this CD. This CD is so good that I bought another copy to give to our neighbors who had just attended a local concert of the piece.
The recording quality is excellent, the voices superb. I particularly enjoy the energy of the pieces. The spectral frequency range is excellent, although the volume range is too large with quiet pieces being to quiet and loud sections being overly loud. I fear this just the technical difficulty of recording such a large assembly of musicians the way the hearer perceives it.
I recommend this to anyone and everyone who admires Orff's work.
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