BaL 12.06.21 - Orff: Carmina Burana

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am
Building a Library
Jeremy Summerly talks to Andrew about the best recordings of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana
Carl Orff composed his cantata in 1936, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. The poems cover a wide range of subjects, which are just as topical today as they were in the 13th century: the fickleness of fortune and wealth, the ephemeral nature of life, the joy of the return of spring, and the pleasures and perils of drinking, gluttony, gambling, and lust.

Available versions:

Ken’ichi Ishizu, Takanosuke Watanabe, Kyoko Ito, Kunitachi College of Music Chorus, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Niklaus Aeschbacher *

Lena Nordin, Hans Dornbusch, Peter Mattei, Allmänna Sången, Uppsala Choir School Children’s Choir, Kroumata Percussion Ensemble, Cecilia Rydinger Alin

Claire Rutter, Tom Randle, Markus Eiche, Highcliffe Junior Choir, Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Marin Alsop

Simona Saturova, , Benjamin Bruns, Dominik Koninger, Klavierduo Onder, The Percussive Planet Ensemble, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Chor Lübeck, Rolf Beck

Lynne Dawson, John Daniecki, Kevin McMillan, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Herbert Blomstedt

Raymond Wolansky, Gerhard Unger, Lucia Popp, John Noble, New Philharmonia Chorus, Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos *

Sylvia GreenBerg, James Bowman, Stephen Roberts, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly

Eric Chumachenco: (piano)

Ann Archibald, Peter Sidhom, John Graham-Hall, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Cooke

Jeffrey Snider, Lynn Eustis, Brian Nedvin, North Texas Grand Chorus, North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon *

Kurt Prestel, Jan Wolanski, Ferdinand Leitner, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Blazej Grek, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Anne Margrethe Dahl *

Zdena Kloubova, Vladimir Dolezal, Ivan Kusnjer, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Kühn Mixed Choir, Bambini Di Praga, Gaetano Delogu

Todd E. Ranney, Derrek Stark, Katherine Wessinger, Mansfield University Festival Chorus, Mansfield University Percussion Ensemble, Hamilton-Gibson Children’s Choir, Peggy Dettwiler

Norma Burrowes, Louis Devos, John Shirley-Quirk, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Southend Boys Choir, Brighton Festival Chorus, Antal Doráti *

Beverly Hoch, Stanford Olsen, Mark Oswald, Face Treble Choir, Choeur de l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit *

Lucia Popp, John van Kesteren, Hermann Prey, Munich Radio Orchestra & Bavarian Radio Choir, Kurt Eichhorn *

Lucia Popp, John van Kesteren, Hermann Prey, Munich Radio Orchestra & Bavarian Radio Choir, Kurt Eichhorn (DVD)

Gabriela Herrera, Frank Kelley, Ben Holt, Choir of the Academia de Musica de Mineria, Orchestra Sinfonica de Mineria, Herrera de la Fuente

Sarah Tynan, Andrew Kennedy, Rodion Pogossov, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir & Trinity Boys Choir, Hans Graf

United States Air Force Band, United States Air Force Singing Sergeants, Odessa College Choir, Southwestern University Chorale, San Antonio Children’s Chorus, The San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers, Lowell Graham

Yuh-Chyi Jou, Daniel Taylor, Christian Miedl, Hsien-Jung Hsieh, Chien-Ying Yang, Taiwan National Choir, 1002 Percussion Ensemble, Agnes Grossman *

Eva Jenisova, Ivan Kusnjer, Vladimir Dolezal, Pavol Prochazka, Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser

Masahiro Takeda, Norichika Iimori, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Little Singers Of Yokosuka Arts Theatre, Joko Ando, Jun Takahashi, Kei Yonashiro, Tokyo Symphony Chorus, Miwako Handa *

Brian Rayner Cook, Peter Hall, Sheila Armstrong, Hallé Choir, Manchester Gs Boys’ Ch, Hallé Orchestra, Maurice Handford *

Patricia Petibon, Hans-Werner Bunz, Christian Gerhaher, Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio, Daniel Harding *


Brigitte Fournier), Peter Sigrist, Michel Brodard, Mayumi Kameda, Jean-Jacques Balet, Ensemble A Percussion de Geneve, Choeur Novantiqua de Sion, Schola des Petits Chanteurs de Sion, Bernard Heritier *

Laura Claycomb, Barry Banks, Christopher Maltman, London Symphony Chorus, Tiffin Boys’ Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox (SACD)

Penelope Walmsley-Clark, John Graham-Hall, Donald Maxwell, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox

Janice Watson, James Bowman & Donald Maxwell, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, David Hill *

Lenneke Ruiten, Christoph Genz, Stephan Genz, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Kinderchor der Staatsoper Stuttgart & GrauSchumacher Piano Duo, Rupert Huber

Yeree Suh, Yves Saelens, Thomas Bauer, Anima Eterna Brugge, Collegium vocale gent & Cantate Domino, Jos van Immerseel *

Valentin Genchev, Svetla Nikolova, Petio Odadjiev, Plovdiv Children’s Choir, Choir of the Plovdiv Opera House, Borislav Ivanov *

Kiera Duffy), Marco Panuccio, Daniel Schmutzhard, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Rundfunkchor & Kinderchor, Kristjan Järvi *

Hans Braun, Paul Kuen, Elfriede Trotschel, Bavarian Radio Symphony Chorus, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eugen Jochum

Gundula Janowitz, Gerhard Stolze, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin Schoneberger Sangerknaben, Eugen Jochum

Regina Werner, Eberhard Buchner, Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzich, Herbert Kegel

Jutta Vulpius, Hans-Joachim Rotsch, Kurt Rehm, Kurt Hubenthal, Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester, -Chor und Kinder-Chor Leipzig, Herbert Kegel *

Celestina Casapietra, Horst Hiestermann, Karl-Heinz Stryczek, Dresdner Kapellknaben, MDR Rundfunkchor, Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig, Herbert Kegel

Susan Graham Smith, Julian Wilkins, Hertfordshire Chorus, Cantate Youth Choir, Michael Kibblewhite

Soloists & Chorus of the Radio Orchestra of the German Democratic Republic, Heinrich Kielmann

Mississippi State University Wind Ensemble, Elva Kaye Lance *

Ruth-Margret Pütz, Michael Cousins, Barry McDaniel, Roland Hermann, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, Tölzer Knabenchor, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Ferdinand Leitner

June Anderson, Philip Creech, Bernd Weikl, Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus & Chicago Symphony Orchestra, James Levine

Sumi Jo, Boje Skovhus, Jochen Kowalski, London Philarmonic Orchestra, London Philarmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta

Arleen Auger, Jonathan Summers, John van Kesteren, Philharmonia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti *

Janice Harsanyi, Rudolf Petrak, Harve Presnell, Rutgers University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy

Stefan Adam, Heidi Meier, Jean-Sebastien Stengel, North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hanover Girl’s Choir, Hanover Boys Choir, Eiji Oue

Edita Gruberova, John Aler, Thomas Hampson, Berliner Philharmoniker, Knabenchor des Staats- und Domchores Berlin, Shinyukai Choir, Seiji Ozawa

Evelyn Mandac, Stanley Kolk, Sherrill Milnes, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New England Conservatory Chorus & Children’s Chorus, Seiji Ozawa *

Venceslava Hruba Freiberger, Rolf Havenstein, Piotr Kusiewicz, State Cracow Philharmony Orchestra, State Cracow Philharmony Choirs, Krzysztof Penderecki *

Natalie Dessay, Thomas Hampson, Gérard Lesne, Orfeon Donostiarra, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson *

London Festival Orchestra, Tallis Chamber Choir, New London Children’s Choir, Ross Pople *

Gerda Harman, Richard Brunner, Rudolf Knoll, Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Salzburg Mozarteum Choir, Kurt Prestel *

Thomas Allen, Gerald English, Sheila Armstrong, St Clement Danes Grammar School Boys’ Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn

Barbara Bonney, Frank Lopardo, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Wiener Sängerknaben, Wiener Philharmoniker, André Previn

Sally Matthews, Lawrence Brownlee. Christian Gerhaher, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin & Knabenchor des Staats- und Domchores Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle (CD/DVD/Blu-ray)

Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Rico Saccani *

Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester, Chor des Westdeutschen Rundfunks, Wolfgang Sawallisch *

Königlich Flämische Philharmonie, Königlich Flämische Philharmoinie, Muhai Tang, Wolfgang Schäfer *

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Robert Shaw

Sylvia McNair, John Aler, Håkan Hagegård, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Leonard Slatkin *

Gudrun Sidonie Otto, Bernhard Landauer, Matthias Helm, Martin Senfter, Duo d’Accord, Percussion Group The Next Step, Wiltener Sängerknaben, Children’s Choirs of the Music School of Telfs Region and Surroundings, Johannes Stecher *

Anne Margrethe Dahl, Blazej Grek, Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Choir, Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra, Ilya Stupel *

Christiane Oelze, David Kuebler, Simon Keenlyside, Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Christian Thielemann

Judith Blegen, Kenneth Riegel, Peter Binder, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Cleveland Orchestra Boys Choir, Cleveland Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas *

London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas (SACD)

Sara Macliver, Jonathan Summers, Paul McMahon, Cantillation, Australian Virtuosi, Synergy Percussion, Sydney Children’s Choir, Anthony Walker

Peter Binder, Maria Venuti, Ulf Kenklies, NDR Chor, Niedersächsische Staatsorchester Hannover, NDR Sinfonieorchester, Hamburg Boys Choir, Hamburger Knabenchor, Günter Wand

Choristers of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban, London Philharmonic Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Franz Welser-Möst

Aida Garifullina, Toby Spence, Ludovic Tézier, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Long Yu (CD/DVD/Blu-ray)


* = download only

[Serial_Apologist]

Interesting how many recordings of this Orffle music are available.

[Bryn]

Interesting how many recordings of this Orffle music are available.

I'm sure I can find something better (almost anything) to do that morning.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My encounters with this work have been connected with education in one way or another. I first was introduced to it when at school and it made a big impact on many of us at the time. When the North Yorkshire Youth Orchestra and North Yorkshire Chorus were performing the work in 1987, the Music Advisor contacted me, wanting a boys' choir to take part. I jumped at the opportunity to train a group of boys at my school. Even though the requirements were straightforward, the boys themselves froze when the music advisor turned up to hear them. It was unnerving for all concerned, as we knew the performance was to be recorded by the BBC for future broadcast. The boys had to sing from the side of the balcony, which was slightly behind the line of the conductor's sight, and I could only sit behind them and guide them in a heavy whisper. In the end, they performed well, and it sounded magnificent on the radio. I made an off-air recording, which will always be my preferred version, but sadly it isn't in the list.

My next encounter came when I was working for a county music service. The work was to be formed by another county youth orchestra, playing alongside the Orchestra of Opera North. I was asked to give a helping hand, singing in the chorus.

I do have two "official" recordings: Burgos and Dorati, but they'll always be second-best.

[cloughie]

The work tends to have the marmite factor and no doubt this will be reflected in comments here. I enjoy a listen to it occasionally and early recordings I had on LP were Jochum and Ozawa. The unforgettable performance was the Previn with the Thomas Allen amateur sub, and I do like the Allen/English/Armstrong/Previn recording.

[vinteuil]

I'm sure I can find something better (almost anything) to do that morning.

... yes. A morning off for me too.

Possibly listening to this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RKFL44Q

.

[cloughie]

... yes. A morning off for me too.

Possibly listening to this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RKFL44Q

.

You’d Pickett over any of the Orff recordings then!

[vinteuil]

You’d Pickett over any of the Orff recordings then!

... well, Carl's such a turn Orff

Not only a fascist - but so vulgar!


[... incidentally, those who were a bit mystified by our divorced adulterous Prime Minister's recent Roman Catholic marriage in Westminster Cathedral might enjoy the line from wiki on Herr Orff - "Orff was a Roman Catholic. He was married four times: to Alice Solscher (m. 1920, div. 1925), Gertrud Willert (m. 1939, div. 1953), Luise Rinser (m. 1954, div. 1959) and Liselotte Schmitz (m. 1960)."]






.

[MickyD]

... yes. A morning off for me too.

Possibly listening to this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RKFL44Q

.

Oh, you've done me a great favour there, Vints...I didn't realise that Eloquence had re-released this set. The original 4 disc release is going for crazy prices at the moment.

[LMcD]

You’d Pickett over any of the Orff recordings then!

If you go for anything recorded by Pickett, better make sure you're not dealing with a fence.

[mikealdren]

My encounters with this work have been connected with education in one way or another. I first was introduced to it when at school and it made a big impact on many of us at the time. When the North Yorkshire Youth Orchestra and North Yorkshire Chorus were performing the work in 1987, the Music Advisor contacted me, wanting a boys' choir to take part. I jumped at the opportunity to train a group of boys at my school. Even though the requirements were straightforward, the boys themselves froze when the music advisor turned up to hear them. It was unnerving for all concerned, as we knew the performance was to be recorded by the BBC for future broadcast. The boys had to sing from the side of the balcony, which was slightly behind the line of the conductor's sight, and I could only sit behind them and guide them in a heavy whisper. In the end, they performed well, and it sounded magnificent on the radio. I made an off-air recording, which will always be my preferred version, but sadly it isn't in the list.

My next encounter came when I was working for a county music service. The work was to be formed by another county youth orchestra, playing alongside the Orchestra of Opera North. I was asked to give a helping hand, singing in the chorus.

I do have two "official" recordings: Burgos and Dorati, but they'll always be second-best.

Was that Barry Griffiths conducting? He had performed it with the North Riding chorus in about 1969 when it was quite an unusual work.

[Parry1912]

Alpie, you haven’t included Norman Lebrecht’s mythical Karajan version.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Was that Barry Griffiths conducting? He had performed it with the North Riding chorus in about 1969 when it was quite an unusual work.

It was Nicholas Smith, who was conductor of the Helsinki SO at the time.

[Serial_Apologist]

Oh, you've done me a great favour there, Vints...I didn't realise that Eloquence had re-released this set. The original 4 disc release is going for crazy prices at the moment.

Then thank goodness I still have my LP of this!

[Serial_Apologist]

If you go for anything recorded by Pickett, better make sure you're not dealing with a fence.

Whom you can always tell from their gait.