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Orff: Carmina Burana / Ozawa, Gruberova, Aler, Hampson


Release Date: 05/23/1989 
Label:  Philips   Catalog #: 422363   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Carl Orff
Performer:  Thomas Hampson,  Edita Gruberova,  John Aler
Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Shinyukai Choir,  Berlin Boys Choir,   ... 
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 0 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Ozawa brings tremendous rhythmic drive as well as a tonal brilliance that is thrilling, while at the same time allowing the softer sections the poise and dreaminess they need.

All the elements here are of the highest quality - the three soloists, the BPO of course, and the choirs... A Japanese chorus recording this work in Germany surely needs some comment but gets none at all. Anyway, the Shin Yu-Kai Choir sing superbly and with total commitment. The men produce suitably lusty tone when needed, and the women are not found wanting by the sometimes cruelly high writing for them.

Ozawa brings tremendous rhythmic drive to the whole thing, as well as a tonal brilliance that is thrilling. At the same time, he Read more allows the softer sections the poise and dreaminess they need, and controls the tempo fluctuations with a perfect sense of timing. Gruberova's high D in the 'Dulcissime' solo is superbly sung - though it sounds almost too much under control; there ought perhaps to be something more primitive about this defining moment in the piece.

For me, the ultimate recording of this work was Jochum's DG recording of the late 60s, and the crucial difference between that and Ozawa's version is made by the soloists. Jochum had Fischer-Dieskau in top form as his baritone, and the incomparable Gundula Janowitz as his soprano. Add to those Gerhard Stolze as an outrageous barbecued swan and you have an unforgettable and unrepeatable combination.

Nonetheless, this Philips version takes some beating, and must be up there among the very finest recordings of the work available today.

-- Gwyn Parry-Jones, MusicWeb International
reviewing this performance reissued as Philips 464725
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Works on This Recording

1. Carmina burana by Carl Orff
Performer:  Thomas Hampson (Baritone), Edita Gruberova (Soprano), John Aler (Tenor)
Conductor:  Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Shinyukai Choir,  Berlin Boys Choir  ... 
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1936; Germany 
 Date of Recording: 06/1988 
Venue:  Berlin 
Length: 60 Minutes 33 Secs. 
Language: Latin 

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