Jochum Carmina

this recording of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana was authorized by the composer himself. It follows, therefore, that the present recording met with the high requirements of the composer himself and so represents an unusual collector's item. Orff intended not just to copy the medieval lyrics but to express the mood of that era. His highly rhythmic compositional style reflects the archaic character of the vocal line. The listener experiences not only the vital primordial pulse of the music in this thrilling interpretation but also the mystery of Fate through the tender lyrical passages. Orff's homage to wine, women and song of the Middle Ages, closely bound up with spring and love, is supported by balanced and precise sound technology. The listener is spirited away to the musical world of Carmina Burana by this recording.

Now, completing Jochum’s entire recorded legacy on DG and Philips, comes Jochum’s Complete Opera and Choral Recordings. These 38 CDs include creative and insightful bonus content, original jacket presentation plus a newly-remastered and new-to-DG CD set of Wagner’s Lohengrin with the sensational yet little-known Lorenz Fehenberger, described by Sir Georg Solti as, “one of the most extraordinary tenor talents I have ever worked with.” This latter operatic addition to the catalogue also becomes a stand-alone digital album. Social tools and a trailer will be announced shortly. Booklet notes include an introduction by Jochum’s daughter who clearly understood her father’s art and musicianship.

Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. Its full Latin title is Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanæ cantoribus et choris cantandæ comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis ("Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magic images").

Often described as ‘music for amateurs’, sometimes used (or misused) towards purely commercial ends, Orff’s Carmina Burana was clearly ready for a new approach, a sort of revivifying, thorough rethinking. This has now been done, thanks to Jos van Immerseel and the absolutely exceptional musical team that he assembled.

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana
The Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus / Michael Tilson Thomas
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 246 MB | Full Artwork: 101 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: CBS Masterworks # MK 33172 | Country/Year: Europe 1990, 1974
Genre: Classical | Style: Contemporary, Medieval, Vocal

"This is a terrifically exciting performance of Orff's popular chestnut. Tempos are swift, from the opening "O fortuna" onward. The soloists are uniformly excellent, especially Judith Blegen, whose "In trutina" remains one of the most beautiful ever recorded. (…) In sum–an unusual and extreme rendition, really well done." ~ClassicsToday

Carl Orff's Stravinskian rabble-rouser retains its appeal. The pagan high-jinks, driving rhythms, and dips into semi-hysteria can be irresistible given the right performance. And, of course, with its dynamic range, from delicately colored quiet passages to heaven-storming climaxes, it's tailor-made for showing off hi-fi systems. Telarc is known for its outstanding sound, and this one's well up to the house standards.