What is the best recording of Orff's Carmina Burana?
The Eugene Symphony rocked the Hult Center last night with a stellar performance of Orff's Carmina Burana. There's nothing like a good intense chorus, sung in Latin in German, that sounds all transcendent and high-minded, but really it's about drinking, getting some booty and how crappy life can be. The roast swan is a nice touch too. Now I'm obsessed with getting Carmina Burana on CD.
But what is the best recording of Orff's carmina burana? Here are some contenders I've encountered on my surfing search:
- Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
- Vaclav Smetacek conducting the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the Czech Singers Choir
- Stokowski/EMI
- Amazon.com: Orff: Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard; Slatkin: Music: Carl Orff,Leonard Slatkin,Sylvia McNair,John Aler,Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra & Chorus,Hakan Hagegard
- Amazon.com: Orff: Carmina Burana: Music: Jonathan Summers,Carl Orff,Riccardo Muti,Arleen Augér,John van Kesteren
These all sound like mighty contenders, though based off the reviews, the Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard on Amazon intrigues me most. Jodie, are you making notes for my Christmas list?

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