Two
admired Carmina Buranas came out at roughly the same time; this
one and the Jochum. But it was the latter that prevailed in
the market and Arts now revive the earlier of the two recordings,
presided over by the admirable Ferdinand Leitner. Firstly Arts
has done a fine job of restoration and their documentation,
full notes (German/English/French) and texts (Latin/English
only) are well done. As for the original recording it needs
to be pointed out, not least in view of the sonic spectaculars
of this work that were to come, that there are some balance
weaknesses. There’s a degree of spread in the sonic picture
which Arts obviously hasn’t been able to rectify and it does
make for one or two “interesting” percussion moments. The lack
of ideal clarity is certainly problematic.
The
choir is able but can edge toward the flabby and whilst this
is a work that courts brashness with considerable success there
is a degree of acoustic brashness to its contribution (and being
picky not an entirely successful blend). Barry McDaniel convinces
– his showing is fine, even those Italianate lurches in Estuans
interius; what happened to him? Soprano soloist Ruth-Margaret
Pütz copes creditably with the strong demands though some are
in truth too excessive (try Dulcissime). Michael Cousins
bears some exorbitant demands and his high tenor just about
sustains full body and tone, even if it does sound less than
comfortable. Roland Hermann has less in the way of ungrateful
writing.
Leitner
encourages some sympathetic woodwind playing (flutes especially)
and moulds the performance with generosity though not quite
the level of electricity some may require. One can see why this
ceded ground to the Jochum but it does have attractions of its
own – though now strictly for the historicist; this after all
was an Orff authorised recording and that gives it cachet still,
if not an obvious recommendation.
Jonathan
Woolf
Carl
ORFF (1895-1982) Carmina
Burana (1935-36) 
Ruth-Margaret Pütz (soprano) Michael
Cousins (tenor) Barry McDaniel (baritone)
Roland Hermann (bass) Cologne Radio
Choir Tölzer Childrens Choir Cologne
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Ferdinand
Leitner Recorded by West German Radio,
Cologne, 1973
ARTS 43001-2
[60.29][JW]
One
can see why this ceded ground to the
Jochum but it does have attractions
of its own ... see Full
Review
Carl
ORFF
(1895-1982) Catulli
Carmina (1943) Donald Grobe
(tenor) – Catallus Ruth-Margaret Pütz
(soprano) - Lesbia Trionfo di
Afrodite (1950-51) Enriqueta
Tarrés (soprano) – Sposa Donald
Grobe (tenor) – Sposo Hans Günter
Nöcker (bass) – Corifeo Brigitte
Dürrler (soprano) – Corifea Horst
R Laubenthal (tenor) – Corifeo
Cologne Radio Choir Cologne Radio
Symphony Orchestra/Ferdinand Leitner
Recorded Cologne, 1974
ARTS ARCHIVES 43002-2 [75.00]
[JW]
Tremendously
involved and involving. The restoration
sounds first class. ... see Full
Review
Carl
ORFF
(1895-1982) Orpheus
– free adaptation of Monteverdi’s
L’Orfeo (1923) Carl Orff (speaker)
Hermann Prey (bass baritone) – Orpheus
Lucia Popp (soprano) – Eurydice Rose
Wagemann (mezzo soprano) – Die Botin
Karl Ridderbusch (bass) – Der Wächter
der Toten
Choir of Bavarian Radio Munich Radio
Orchestra/Kurt Eichhorn Recorded Munich,
1972
ARTS ARCHIVES 43003-2 [66.07]
[JW]
A
curio that will be of most interest
to devotees of the development of
Orff’s vocal and theatrical powers.
... see Full
Review
