Immerse yourself in the timeless allure of Carl Orff's "Orpheus," a masterful reinterpretation of the classic myth, released on August 30, 2011, by the esteemed label CPO. This captivating album presents Orff's unique take on the legendary tale, drawing inspiration from Monteverdi's "Orfeo" and infusing it with his distinctive modernist style. The opera, spanning three acts, is a rich tapestry of orchestral and vocal brilliance, showcasing the profound depth of Orff's compositional genius.
The album features a stellar cast, with the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Orpheus Choir Munich, under the skilled direction of conductor Ulf Schirmer, bringing Orff's vision to life. The performance is a testament to the power of storytelling through music, as Orpheus's journey from joyous celebration to profound grief and ultimately, redemption, unfolds.
"Orpheus" is not just an opera; it is an exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of music. The album also includes the stunning "Klage der Ariadne," a twelve-minute scena for mezzo-soprano that highlights Orff's enduring fascination with ancient myths and their timeless resonance.
With a duration of approximately 71 minutes, this album is a comprehensive journey through Orff's reinterpretation of the Orpheus myth. Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer to Orff's work, "Orpheus" offers a rich and rewarding listening experience. The album's blend of classical and modernist elements makes it a standout addition to any music collection.
2011 CPO2011 CPO
Tracks
Orpheus: ToccataCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus: Als einst Orpheus den Tod seines Weibes mit Traierlieden beklagte (Speaker)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: Preist diesen Tag der Freude! (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: Flieht und der nachtigen Wolken Dunkel (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: Strahlendes Licht, leuchtende Sonne (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: All mein Sehnen, Orpheus, all mein Sinnen (Eurydike)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: Flieht uns der nachtigen Wolken Dunkel (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: Preist diesen Tag der Freude! (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: Froher Tag, lichter Tag, Tag der Liebe! (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act I: Arkadische Landshaft: MorescaCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: Nehmt mich auf - Irh stillen Walder (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: Die Welt versinkt in deinem Song, Raum und Zeit entliehen (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: Nehmt mich auf - Irh stillen Walder (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: Die Welt versinkt in deinem Song, Raum und Zeit entliehen (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: Gebt mir Antwort, weite Walder (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: Lament: Eurydike - Bist du mir erloschen (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act II: Heller, lichter Wald: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Aus dem Dunkel ragt die uberlebengsgrosse Gestaly des Wachters der TotenCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Bin ich hinab getaucht - Ins Reich der Schatten (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Halt - Du, der du ins Land des Todes niedersteigst (Wachter)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Du dunkler Warner, einsamer Wachter (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Allbezwingend tragt dein Sang, dein Leid ins Land der Schatten (Wachter)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Weh mir unselig Seligem, endlich dir nach bin ich (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Hat ganz - Des Leides Krafy dein Herz zerbrochen (Wachter)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: O gib sie mir zuruck! (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: InstrumentalCarl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Zum Licht! Zum Leben! (Orpheus, Eurydike)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Besegt hat Orpheus die Nacht (Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Eurydike, meine Liebe bluht empor in meinem Liedern (Orpheus, Chorus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Eurydike, fuhlst du den Tag, dem wir entgegenschreiten? (Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Orpheus, Act III: Unterwelt: Weh - Dass des Lebens Sehnsucht im Land des Todes dich ergreft (Eurydike, Orpheus)Carl Orff, Kay Stiefermann, Michaela Selinger, Janina Baechle, Tareq Nazmi, Marcus Everding, Munich Orpheus Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Klage der AriadneCarl Orff, Janina Baechle, Munich Radio Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer
Carl Orff, born in Munich in 1895, was a German composer and music educator whose name is indelibly linked to his monumental cantata "Carmina Burana." This sprawling, dramatic work, composed in the mid-1930s, is a symphonic tour de force for full orchestra, symphony choir, and youth choir, setting to music texts from a 13th-century collection of poems. Orff's innovative approach to composition and his unique rhythmic and melodic language make "Carmina Burana" a thrilling and unforgettable experience.
Beyond his compositional prowess, Orff was a pioneer in music education, developing the Schulwerk, a method that emphasized rhythm, movement, and improvisation, and which has had a lasting impact on children's musical training. His work as an educator began in the 1920s, and his innovative approaches continue to influence music teaching today. Orff's life and work were significantly shaped by the historical context of his time, including the rise of the Third Reich and the Nazi regime's complex relationship with his music. His legacy endures as a composer who not only created powerful, evocative music but also revolutionized the way we think about musical education.