Carmina Burana by Orff (1996)
I once had a woman tell me she thought this type of music was “scary.” Well, I don’t know about scary, but this isn’t something everyone will like. With its Latin and Germanic lyrics and operatic style, it can be a little intimidating at first.
The first track, “O Fortuna,” is well-known in cinema for its epic sound, something later tracks lack. Instead, we are left with lighthearted choral melodies like “Merchant, give me paint to make my cheeks rosy” and “Round-dance,” the triumphant “If the whole world were mine,” and the despondent “Day and night are hateful to me.” I love how the cyclical nature of fate is shown when the disc culminates with “O Fortuna” instead of simply ending after the previous track.
I think this CD would be great for anyone who loves musicals, opera, or choral chanting. My recording is with the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra, but there are others that may be better or worse. Listen to a few and find one you prefer.
View Orff: Carmina Burana on Amazon.