Orff: Carmina Burana / K.jarvi

Järvi, Kristjan

Kristjan Järvi carries the genes for solid musicality shared with his famous father and brother but he adds something different to his concerts and recordings and no where is that more evident than in this lively, nuanced reading of the Orff Carmina Burana. With so many fine recordings of this popular work available one wonders why he elected to enter the competition. But then just listen to how he makes every phrase breathe and adds substance to the lighter passages of this massive work. It glows with fine preparation and marks his accepting the lead position with this orchestra - the MDR Sinfonieorchester. Not only does he manage to get solid and lush sounds form this ensemble but he also demands and gets attention to detail of phrasing that many other conductors and orchestras over look. For this recording he joins forces with the Rundfunkchor and Kinderchor and together they create some of the richest choral sound on records. As has been said, `There can't be many people who don't know at least the massive choral piece "O Fortuna" that opens and closes the Cantiones profanae, the secular songs after medieval manuscripts kept in Benediktbeuern Abbey. Pretty much everyone with an interest in culture will recognize Orff's instrumental sound straight off, dominated as it is by a large percussion section. And no less familiar is the Wheel of Fortune, the medieval miniature that found fame as the cover picture to the score of Carmina Burana: it depicts Fortuna, the capricious goddess of destiny, whose wheel of fate all creatures are at the mercy of, and in which the beginning and end of earthly existence come full circle.' The soloists for this performance include Daniel Schmutzhard, baritone, who has some moments of uneven tone production, but he transmits the energy of the songs with gusto. Interestingly he elects to avoid going in the falsetto voice or head tone that most baritones use but instead sings full voice despite the often high tessitura. The small tenor - the roasted swan - is well handled by Marco Panuccio. But of the soloists the glory goes to Kiera Duffy who manages to sing one of the sweetest `In Trutina' arias that stands with the finest sopranos who have been here before her. An in the final ascending line she produces a seemingly endless range that soars with endless breath control and accuracy of pitch. Järvi manages his ensemble with great care for detail and operatic verve. This is a recording that should not go unnoticed. Grady Harp, October

Price: $20.98