Carmina Burana

[richardfinegold]

I finally made it to the end of the Sony Ormandy box, and one of the last discs is a rousing rendition of this potboiler. I had forgotten how much sheer fun this piece is and I've played this recording a few times in the past week.
I can't say that I've heard that many versions of it. I think that I used to have a Previn/LSO recording but it seems to have gone missing. The only other CB in my collection is Slatkin, and I think it is one of the last recordings he made before he left St. Louis. I hauled that one out and it is very good, brilliantly recorded, but Slatkin seems to take his foot off the gas in some of the wilder moments. I had recently purchased a Blu Ray Audio of Slatkin and the Lyon Symphony in the Symphonie Fantastique, which is another piece that can benefit from some judiciously applied vulgar excess, and the same criticism applies. There is a bit of irony here as Slatkin's 70s era Prokofiev recordings were frequently criticized as being over the top.
I know that Jochum's CB is highly regarded. Any other favorites?

[MrGongGong]

I make no excuse for bringing you this work of genius again
BUT
Don't watch if you want to keep your mental image of the piece intact .........

[Oldcrofter]

[umslopogaas]

Mr GG, many thanks, that is the most surreal thing I've seen for weeks!

This is a very popular work, I've managed to accumulate nine versions, all on LP, and I dont even particularly like it:

Jochum (earlier version, in mono)
Sawallisch (mono, "recorded under the personal supervision of Carl Orff.")
Previn
Kegel
Ormandy
Kegel again
Fruhbeck de Burgos
Smetacek
Muti

As far as I recall, enthusiasts rate Kegel with the Leipzig Radio SO very highly, but Previn is the one that stands out in my memory.

[richardfinegold]

I make no excuse for bringing you this work of genius again
BUT
Don't watch if you want to keep your mental image of the piece intact .........

My daughter had shown me that last week when she heard the Ormandy being played in my house.

[Stanfordian]

I have several versions of Carmina Burana. For me the best by some distance is Eugen Jochum from 1967 conducting the Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin with Gundula Janowitz, Gerhard Stolze and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau on Deutsche Grammophon 'Galleria'. A great performance with fine sonics too. I can see a copy on amazon described as ‘very good’ for 1p plus postage.

[visualnickmos]

..... Previn/LSO recording but it seems to have gone missing. I know that Jochum's CB is highly regarded. Any other favorites?

I heard Previn's recording a while back, and it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Regarding others, I have a great version of the LSO/Hickox et al, and perhaps my own favourite - by a whisker - of the two I possess, is the New Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Fruhbeck de Burgos. Soloists are Lucia Popp, Gerhard Unger, Raymond Wolansky and John Noble. The Wandsworth School Boys' Choir also appear. I would definitely recommend this recording.

I have also heard Jochum's (DG) but to my ears, it all sounds a bit too restrained and detracts from the spirit of the piece; it should be a bit wild...

[Barbirollians]

I have no versions and I intend my collection to stay that way - dreadful bilge

[BBMmk2]

Frubecki de Buirgos and Previn for me. there does nbot seem to be any decent recent recordings of this work? I remember that famous Proms peformance with Previn conducting and I think sir Thomas Allen, where he fainted on stage and a student from the RAM offered to savethe day! He didnt do too bad as job either! Anyone remember?

[Ferretfancy]

Frubecki de Buirgos and Previn for me. there does nbot seem to be any decent recent recordings of this work? I remember that famous Proms peformance with Previn conducting and I think sir Thomas Allen, where he fainted on stage and a student from the RAM offered to savethe day! He didnt do too bad as job either! Anyone remember?

I have never seen a cello section react so quickly as Sir Thomas keeled over in their direction! Previn went on conducting with a rather nervous manner, and I remember thinking that there was anothe baritone number coming up soon. Then the young man walked on with a vocal score and signalled that he was ready to stand in, and did it rather well. The incident was a nine days wonder, but maybe others will know whether he had a successful career, I hope so !

[BBMmk2]

I have never seen a cello section react so quickly as Sir Thomas keeled over in their direction! Previn went on conducting with a rather nervous manner, and I remember thinking that there was anothe baritone number coming up soon. Then the young man walked on with a vocal score and signalled that he was ready to stand in, and did it rather well. The incident was a nine days wonder, but maybe others will know whether he had a successful career, I hope so !

thank you Ferret! I just cannot remember that singer's name?

[Nick Armstrong]

I find from my diary that I shall be at a performance of Carmina Burana tomorrow evening! Played by the LPO, and following Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms...

http://shop.lpo.org.uk/performances/detail.asp?7913,63,0,0,0

(Anyone know of Sarah Tynan, who it seems has stepped in to replace Sally Matthews...? In fact, anyone know about Ms Matthews either? I'm not up with the latest in British singers However I know Andrew Kennedy can deliver having seen him in Hymnus Paradisi in the RAH last summer.... )

[Ferretfancy]

thank you Ferret! I just cannot remember that singer's name?

According to Wikipedia, his name is Patrick Mc Carthy. Apparently on that night in 1974 Thomas Allen's understudy was a doctor, and had to attend him backstage while Mr Mc Carthy sang the part. Subsequently his voice changed to tenor, and he continued singing for some years until he took up conducting in the 1990s
He seems to be based in Essex and Suffolk, working with various local orchestras and choral groups in Colchester, Witham and Ipswich.
It's nice to know that he seems to have done well!

[BBMmk2]

According to Wikipedia, his name is Patrick Mc Carthy. Apparently on that night in 1974 Thomas Allen's understudy was a doctor, and had to attend him backstage while Mr Mc Carthy sang the part. Subsequently his voice changed to tenor, and he continued singing for some years until he took up conducting in the 1990s
He seems to be based in Essex and Suffolk, working with various local orchestras and choral groups in Colchester, Witham and Ipswich.
It's nice to know that he seems to have done well!

Yes it is Ferret! Thank you for that info.

[gradus]

Count me amongst the vulgarians that enjoy the piece. I've never heard a better performance than Fruhbeck de Burgos's not least because of the the ravishing singing of Lucia Popp. I believe there is a dvd of the German tv performance originally shown in the seventies in which she also figures. I forget the conductor and orchestra but seem to recall that at one point Miss Popp sings whilst standing seemingly naked in a barrel; somehow the memory lingers.