BaL 12.06.21 - Orff: Carmina Burana

[AuntDaisy]

Is my memory playing tricks or was there a South Bank Show film of the Carmina complete with Dietrich F-D dressed as a stuffed swan and rotating slowly on a spit? Or was it another unfortunate Bass-Baritone?

Is it this? ~31:10 in, presumably John van Kesteren rather than dear old DFD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj-tBVq61as

[MickyD]

It certainly wasn't a South Bank Show, I worked on all of those.

[LMcD]

It certainly wasn't a South Bank Show, I worked on all of those.

1975 West German TV film from Bavaria Atelier GmbH. Won the Jury Prize at the Besancon Festival.

[LHC]

1975 West German TV film from Bavaria Atelier GmbH. Won the Jury Prize at the Besancon Festival.

Directed by the opera director, Jean Pierre Ponnelle. In the 70s he produced a number of TV films of operas, including Madama Butterfly, Falstaff, Marriage of Figaro, Cenerentola etc, as well as Carmina Burana and the Monteverdi opera cycle with Nicholas Harnoncourt.

[LeMartinPecheur]

The Frühbeck de Burgos recording is a remarkable performance blessed by Lucia Popp in fine voice but the digital transfer I've heard is over-bright and not as good as the analogue original imv.

Absolutely 100% agree. Buying the CD was a huge disappointment. Indeed, I think I've tried a couple of 'different' CD issues in the hope of a new transfer - equally all horrible Do please tell me if anyone knows of a good one (unless it's Japanese, ultra-expensive...).

[gradus]

Is my memory playing tricks or was there a South Bank Show film of the Carmina complete with Dietrich F-D dressed as a stuffed swan and rotating slowly on a spit? Or was it another unfortunate Bass-Baritone?

I remember a staged tv version, from Germany I think, that had Hermann Prey and Lucia Popp, with Lucia I seem to recall singing apparently naked in a barrel - don't ask me why.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Is it this? ~31:10 in, presumably John van Kesteren rather than dear old DFD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj-tBVq61as

Yep that looks like it . It was shown on UK terrestrial but sounds like it wasn’t the SBS ....

[Bryn]

Absolutely 100% agree. Buying the CD was a huge disappointment. Indeed, I think I've tried a couple of 'different' CD issues in the hope of a new transfer - equally all horrible Do please tell me if anyone knows of a good one (unless it's Japanese, ultra-expensive...).

One sometimes wonders just who the transfer engineers think the ultimate customer will be. While I never managed to get a copy of the original LP issue of the Le Roux recording of Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie that tracked without distortion, the timbral qualities were much better on the short-term French Decca analogue LP re-issue than any subsequent CD version.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I remember a staged tv version, from Germany I think, that had Hermann Prey and Lucia Popp, with Lucia I seem to recall singing apparently naked in a barrel - don't ask me why.

It’s the same Ponnelle version that I was thinking of . She’s in a font. (I think )What a voice she had - Hermann Prey also excellent ..

[Darloboy]

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

Possibly listening to this -

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

.

The last time BaL covered Orff's Carmina Burana was in June 95 when Jeremy J Beadle chose Jochum with Slatkin as his modern digital recording choice. However, the week before that, Tess Knighton covered the mediaeval Carmina Burana and made Pickett her first choice - I can't remember if Pickett actually had any competition at that time!

[Darloboy]

Marmite indeed. But leaving aside Orff himself (and we shouldn't judge composers' works by their views) Carmina is a truly original work with all that ostinato stuff and inspiring orchestration. Groups I have been involved with (both singing and providing a celesta!) have absolutely loved the work for its vigour. The same goes for audiences, so you won't see me dissing it. Jeremy Summerly will, hopefully, take charge of the BAL slot and not be too distracted by 'chat' format. I do hope his judgements will favour recordings with éclat, and not just textural precision.

As it's Jeremy Summerly, I think I'll give it a miss. I find him too arrogant and I don't usually agree with his choices. The nadir for me was the programme on Pergolesi's Stabat Mater when he boasted that he didn't actually own a recording of the work; just Rilling's recording of the Bach adaptation. Also the programme on St Matthew Passion when he said something like "Don't ask me to explain why 'Erbarme Dich' is beautiful, it just is" - at which point I wondered why he thought we were listening to him.

[cloughie]

For those who may wish to sing along:

http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/works/orff-cb/carmlyr.php

[LMcD]

I remember a staged tv version, from Germany I think, that had Hermann Prey and Lucia Popp, with Lucia I seem to recall singing apparently naked in a barrel - don't ask me why.

It's the same Bavaria Atelier film version of the Ponnelle.
Will there actually be anybody listening to the BAL in question, given the objections to the work and/or the reviewer?

[Ein Heldenleben]

It's the same Bavaria Atelier film version of the Ponnelle.
Will there actually be anybody listening to the BAL in question, given the objections to the work and/or the reviewer?

Yes me - partly out of habit and partly because it’s a distraction from the Times’ daily account of the latest covid fiasco. Also there’s nothing like a global pandemic for getting you in that Wheel Of Fortune frame of mind.,,

[LHC]

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

Isn't Pickett persona non grata after his conviction and imprisonment?