Carl Orff - Carmina Burana

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana
Classical / Cantata | DVD-rip AVI | Berlin 1989 | 1.06Gb - 3% recovery rec
Seiji Ozawa - Kathleen Battle - Thomas Allen - Frank Lopardo - Berliner PO

DVD review:
This DVD presents Seiji Ozawa conducting both Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" in 1989 in Berlin (with the Berliner Philarmoniker and the Shin-Yu Chorus of Japan). In addition, the Orff work has guess soloist Kathleen Battle, Frank Lepardo (tenor), and Thomas Allen (baritone).

A fabulous performance of Orff's work. Ozawa's animated conducting style is able to get the best out of this orchestra and chorus. Allen's baritone voice is well suited for this work; while Kathleen Battle gives a smooth, emotional performance. Her voice is just so pure, her singing almost effortless, that she simply stands apart in this cast of great singers. (While watching this performance I began to wonder how much time must have been spent in rehearsals in preparing this huge Japanese chorus to sing in Italian. Whatever difficulties (if any), Ozawa pulls off this Herculean task with considerable aplomb).

Highlight of the disc:
So many to choose from, but I'd have to pick Kathleen Battle's rendition of "Dulcissime" from "Carmina Burana" (cut 24 on the disc): 49 seconds of the purest voice and sweetest sounds you'll probably ever hear in your lifetime. (As an aside, notice the violin player just off Battle's right elbow during this aria; I think he was entranced with this performance)

All in all, two great pieces of music that are performed as well as I could ever has hoped for. But make no mistake about it, this DVD is as much about Ozawa as it is the music being played; a legacy, if you will, profiling his talents and skills as a conductor that have accumulated over a long career. Highly recommended.

DVD links:
http://rapidshare.com/files/32782189/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32782211/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32776786/burana_vid_ozawa.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32782507/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32777026/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32776916/burana_vid_ozawa.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32777701/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32781463/burana_vid_ozawa.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/33263066/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32778506/burana_vid_ozawa.part10.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32778579/burana_vid_ozawa.part11.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/32779105/Burana_vid_Ozawa.part12.rar