Carl Orff: Carmina Burana. Gundula Janowitz, Gehard Stolze, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Schöneberger Sängerknaben, Eugen Jochum. DG Galleria 423 886-2 (1988), barcode 028942388628
Recorded October 1967 in the UFA-Tonstudio, Berlin
Reissue DG “The Originals” 447 437-2 (1995), barcode 028944743722:
French reissue DG “Les 100 Classiques” 439 079-2 (2002), barcode 028943907927:
French Reissue, Gatefold edition: DG 442 980-8 (2007), barcode 028944298086:
…and many other editions documented on Discogs.com (link will open a new tab)
A benchmark recording – still today, fifty years later
Originally posted on Amazon.com, 1 December 2008 (title adjusted for reissue, 23 November 2017)
This version was recorded in 1967 and has been considered ever since as the benchmark version – and rightly so. The 1967 sound holds up very well, with only slight traces of congestion in the louder climaxes. It has been recently reissued on DG’s “Originals” (reproducing the cover art of the original LP), with, they say, “mehr Präsenz, mehr Brillianz, mehr Raumklang”, but the sound of the first CD reissue from 1988 on the budget collection “Galleria”, which is the edition I have, was already very good. Choral and orchestral work is superb, with a suitably child-like children’s chorus in “Amor volat undique” (track 15). Certainly there are spots in which other versions may have an edge, slightly more bite here or clarity there or tonal perfection elsewhere, but overall Jochum and his forces are simply great in their characterization and details. But where his version is really incomparable is in the area of soloists. The tenor is attributed by Orff only one great number – “Olim lacus colueram”, track 12 – and Gerhard Stolze acquits himself of the unique vocal demands – including singing in falsetto to convey the wracking tortured suffered by the swan roasting on the spit – with great characterization.
I am usually no great fan of Fischer-Dieskau – I find that he too often tries to compensate a light baritonal timbre by an over-acting which all too often lapses into fussing – but here his clarity of timbre and masterful theatrics are incomparable. But above all it is Gundula Janowitz’ unique blend of angelic purity and steel power of delivery that I find unmatchable, making this recording one for the ages.
The liner notes contain no presentation of the work but offer something more valuable still and often lamentably absent from other releases: the complete text with translations in German, French and English.
Some reviewers are happy with the ’95 remastered reissue. Others think that it loses something from the ’67 original with the remastering and prefer the ’88 version. So which one to get?
Hi Ron, thanks for your message. I’m afraid I can’t help you though. I’m very happy with the 1988 original Western edition on Galleria, which is the one I have, and thus have felt no incentive to buy the 1995 remastered edition. But hey, if you use the barcodes for research, I’m sure you can find both editions on the marketplace for so cheap that you can afford to buy both and compare yourself. I don’t know if you are located in the US, but I’ve just checked on Amazon.com and 1988 sells for a dollar and 8 cents, and the 1995 edition for a dollar 66. At those prices one can afford to take risks. If you do so and compare, let me know what you think. Cheers.