Search - Orff, Harsanyi, Petrak :: Carmina Burana (Sl)

Orff: Carmina Burana/Ormandy, Harsanyi, Petrak, et al [SACD]

Raymond T Fortier | South Portland, ME United States | 01/26/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"If you are buying this disc because it is recorded in SACD format, don't bother. Based upon the other SACDs I have I expected a top notch recording. It is not. I'm not sure if its a function of the recording process itself or something in the way it was transfered to SACD, but there is a very high level of hiss that is dramatic and distracting at high volume levels. Also, the vocals are somewhat muddled. I would say that a standard CD with a better recording would sound better."

Not only hiss..... other problems

Sean Keegan | Lake Elsinore, CA United States | 01/01/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"There is a reviewer that is on here that goes around putting down people that have complained about the hiss on some recordings of SACD music. Some of wht he says is true, SACD has the ability to reproduce EVERY nuance of the original, including its warts. BUT there is a limit to what I can take. Maybe for its time this was a stupendous recording, but I have heard many regular CDs of Carmina that sound a lot better. I did A/B comparisons with some in my collection and this SACD was one of the worst. Bad muddled voices. Bad stereo soundstage. Not well mixed. The only redeming factor is there is good punch to the music. Good bass in the kettledrums for example. But the hiss, bad mixing, vocals that sound like they are a mile away, and muddled sound really do not show off what SACD can do. Why can't record labels do a modern recording with todays technology and make it sound they way it is supposed to sound... like you are THERE in the concert hall. I am sorry but hiss in a recording does not make me feel like I am in a concert hall. It makes me VERY conscious that I am listening to a RECORDING. This is unacceptable when I have other SACD discs that really do make me feel like I am in a concert hall. It is nice that these really old recordings can be archived almost perfectly now with SACD. But I cannot give this recording a good review because of the too numerous warts in the original recording made so long ago. Seems like labels would rather release this old stuff and make more money off of it by fooling people that it is SO good because it is SACD (when honestly with the amount of hiss etc. regular CD would have been enough)instead of rerecording it properly along with all the expense that entails. Come on record companies, we want QUALITY SACD recordings too along with the archival stuff."

Buy a better C.Burana recording and performance

Raul Saavedra | Caracas, Venezuela | 11/15/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Stay away from this disk, the solo performances and choirs are really dissapointing compared to a number of other options.You should rather look for the CD (or SACD if it ever gets available) of the recording with Eugen Jochum as conductor, and Dietrich Fischer Diskeau (one of the best baritones in the world) as baritone. That recording can be found under the labels of Deutsche Grammophon, and also Polygram. It's supposed to be one of the best Carmina Burana's ever performed. I have read on the web that that performance was witnessed by Orff himself, and that he gave it its personal seal of approval so to speak. My personal opinion, however, with respect to the Jochum recording, is that the soprano doesn't excel at all singing the "Dulcisima", at least compared to the soprano in the recording I'm about to mention.There is a recording of Carmina Burana conducted by Ricardo Muti, with absolutely awesome solo performances. Arleen Auger (the soprano) in that recording has one of the most beautiful and effortless "Dulcisimas" ever. Also, her long note in "Amor volat undique" when singing "Cordis in custodiaaaaa..." is arguably one of the most beautifully steadily and effortlessly uninterrupted notes ever sung. She makes the soprano role in Carmina Burana seem to be the easiest thing to sing in the world, when it's a very hard one. The baritone Jonathan Summers is also excellent, as well as the choirs. The drawback in this recording is the volume levels, at least the CD produced by EMI. The volume levels didn't end up recorded/edited evenly enough across different sections. That issue really doesn't do justice to the top quality of the performances for this pieces. I've noticed there is a new edition of the Muti performance with Auger and Summers, but that one still has the volume level problems.I think if you really love and enjoy C.B., it is a good idea to consider getting at least 3 recordings: the one conducted by Jochum, the one by Muti, and there is another good one conducting Andre Previn. I've read that one is also highly praised, but I haven't had a chance to listen to it (planning to get it very soon to add it to my Carmina Buranas). The one by Jochum is a good way to go, but not the only one, and truly not the best one at all for certain aspects of Carmina Burana, in particular the soprano. I'd suggest don't stick to one option alone. You would be missing to much sound beauty if you don't listen to (at least) Arleen Auger in the Muti version.So I would suggest that you you choose one or more of those three, but I would definitely NOT recommend this recording of Carmina Burana with Eugene Ormandy conducting."