This reissue of Orff's "original authorized recordings" of these two sequels to Carmina burana is much more successful than the same forces' 1973 performance of that more famous work. Much of the reason stems from the fact that the orchestra is less a factor here (indeed in Catulli carmina, for four pianos and percussion, it's not a factor at all) and so the 1974 Cologne Radio ensemble's peculiar tonal qualities and lack of sheer adrenaline never get in the way of enjoyment. The Cologne Radio Choir also is in better form, offering an enthusiastic and well-rehearsed Catulli carmina, earthier and less polished than the remarkable Leipzig Radio Choir under Kegel, but certainly idiomatic and in all respects finely done.

Trionfo di Afrodite is so strange anyway that just to perform it is to get it right. The soloists acquit themselves with honor in their very ungrateful parts, and Ferdinand Leitner paces the piece as well as anyone ever has. The absence of texts is annoying: hearing someone yell at you in Greek for minutes on end isn't fun even if you know what the shouting is about--but then most fans of this music already will have other performances they can draw on for the words, or else they have long since stopped caring. In short, Orffians will welcome this reissue, carefully remastered and sounding better than ever. [2/19/2004]

--David Hurwitz