Orff Carmina Burana Stravinsky Fireworks And Circus Polka

EMI Has rereleased this classic recording of Carmina Burana, Fruehbeck de Burgos keeps magisterial control over the enormous forces, the choir of boys is excellent, and the soloists are second to none. The baritone in Omnia Sol Temperat is exquisite -- in Estuans Interius, riveting -- the opening, ominous O Fortuna is perfect, and Lucia Popp's In Trutina Mentis Dubia is delectable, sensuous, thrilling -- her intaken breath, after the words "fluctuant contraria", just adds a further sensuousness and rapture to her delicious rendition; and the penultimate "Blanziflor et Helena", a hymn to the Goddess in her bright aspect, is jubilant, triumphant-- just as the shattering reprise of "O Fortuna", ending the piece, is one to her in her dark aspect.