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Carl Orff: Antigonae / Sawallisch, Modl, Radev, Dooley, Kuen, Uhl
Profil

Carl Orff: Antigonae / Sawallisch, Modl, Radev, Dooley, Kuen, Uhl

$24.99

Details

Composer
ORFF, CARL
Artist
Sawallisch, Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mödl, Rad
Format
CD
Label
Profil
Released
Mar 30, 2010
Catalog #
PH09066
UPC
881488906653

About



ORFF Antigonae • Wolfgang Sawallisch, cond; Martha Mödl ( Antigone ); Carlos Alexander ( Creon ); William Dooley ( Chorus Leader ); Fritz Uhl ( Haemon ); Marianne Radev ( Ismene ); Paul Kuen ( Guard ); Joseph Traxel ( Tiresias ); Kurt Böhme ( Messenger ); Lilian Benningsen ( Eurydice ); Bavarian RSO & Ch • PROFIL 09066 (2CDs: 143:06) Live: Munich 1958


Every collector knows Orff’s Carmina Burana . Many are acquainted with the Catulli Carmina . Fewer know that Orff, after World War II, produced three theater works that aimed to create a contemporary equivalent of the ancient performances of Greek tragedy, heightening the texts with his paradoxically archaic-sounding modern music, and with dance. Antigonae first in 1949 and then Oedipus der Tyrann in 1959 make use of the highly expressive 1804 German adaptations of the Sophocles plays by Friedrich Hölderlin. ( Prometheus , from 1968, sets Aeschylus’s Greek.)


As in the setting of Catullus poems, the orchestra is stripped of much of the color that makes Carmina Burana so popular, while retaining the visceral impact of a large ensemble. Antigonae requires six pianos, four harps, six each of flutes, oboes (three doubling English horn), and muted trumpets, nine double basses, and a large battery of percussion. The combination makes a wonderful noise in full cry, though Orff uses the whole orchestra sparingly and, much of the time, quite delicately. Opera singers of the first rank are required, but it is not an opera as such. The text is generally sung with little accompaniment, frequently at the extremes of the range, in an intensely rhythmic chant. Piano and tuned percussion are used to establish key, add color, and punctuate the line. Occasionally greater forces are used to amplify emotion, as in Creon’s and Antigone’s pivotal scenes, and to accompany the chorus. There are, however, lengthy stretches of heroically declaimed, sparsely accompanied German. This may sound monotonous, but throughout the many hours spent listening to three versions of the two-and-one-half hour work in review, plus a recording of the later Oedipus , I did not find it so.


I say this despite little German comprehension, and the recording’s lack of texts, or even a reasonable synopsis. One may secure a translation of Hölderlin’s verse, which Orff set line-for-line, but at more than half of the cost of the recording. Doing so will add to the appreciation of the work, yet in truth, with some knowledge of the story, Orff and the extraordinary performers make this a moving experience without translation. For those fluent in German, the wonderful diction and clear recording should make a libretto unnecessary.


If lack of text is a weakness—and in fairness, this is common to all releases—it is the only one. If one is going to issue a recording of such an obscure work, one best make it a superlative one, and that is just what Profil has done. On disc, the work has been almost exclusively the property of the Bavarian Radio. After the 1949 premiere at Salzburg, recorded but currently out of print, all but one CD release has been made in Munich either by the Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, or the State Opera. Georg Solti’s 1951 recording on Orfeo is distinguished by the incomparable Creon of Hermann Uhde, but is put out of contention for a general recommendation by some rather scrappy orchestral and choral execution. Ferdinand Leitner’s is a studio recording from 1961, notable for the conductor’s subtle and nuanced pacing, which gives a spiritual quality to a performance that emphasizes character delineation. Inge Borkh is a vulnerable Antigone, heartbreaking in her grief and moving in her preparation for death. The recording, which I admire greatly, is currently available only as a download, so the discovery and release of this Sawallisch live recording from 1958 is particularly welcome.


Sawallisch was recording a fair amount of Orff in this period: a 1956 monaural EMI Carmina Burana that rivals Jochum’s classic account (DG) for acute conducting, and splendid recordings of the two fairy tale operas, Der Mond and Die Kluge , also for EMI in 1956–57. He was therefore an old hand at Orff by the time he led this performance. He does not linger as much as Leitner—his performance is more than a quarter-hour faster—exchanging some poignancy and understatement for an implacable sense of impending doom. Martha Mödl’s imperious Antigone fits into this approach perfectly, as does Carlos Alexander’s pitiless Creon and Fritz Uhl’s desperate Haemon. Paul Kuen is a fine Mime-like Guard, but must give pride of place to Gerhard Stolze’s conspiratorial reading for Leitner. William Dooley sings the Chorus Leader movingly, and the men of the Bavarian Radio Choir are the finest group to record this music, even preferable to their subsequent outing three years later. The remaining singers are equally fine, with special mention necessary of Kurt Böhme’s sonorous Messenger.


The recording itself is a marvel, showing almost no sign of its age. It is monaural, but with subtle ambient processing that provides some sense of space without adding artificial reverberation. (The booklet is silent on the matter, but the effect is pleasantly audible, and visible when scoped.) The sound is detailed and immediate, with remarkable percussion transients, solid bass, and the voices placed naturally in relation to the instruments. (Leitner achieves some of his delicacy and intimacy through forward placement of the voices.) The audience is almost completely silent. In all, this is the most desirable of the recordings of this work, a superb introduction to Orff’s too-seldom explored Greek tragedies, and a gripping dramatic experience.


FANFARE: Ronald E. Grames

Tracklist 33 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: Gemeinsamschwesterliches! o Ismenes Haupt! (Antigonae, Ismene) 03:56
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Gemeinsamschwesterliches! o Ismenes Haupt! (Antigonae, Ismene)
    Duration
    03:56
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Martha Mödl, Marianne Radev
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  3. 2 Act I: Bedenke, Schwester, wie der Vater, von uns (Ismene, Antigonae) 05:06
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I: Bedenke, Schwester, wie der Vater, von uns (Ismene, Antigonae)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Marianne Radev, Martha Mödl
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  4. 3 Act I: Interlude 01:49
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: Interlude
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  5. 4 Act I: O Blick der Sonne, du schonster (Chorus) 04:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: O Blick der Sonne, du schonster (Chorus)
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  6. 5 Act I: Ihr Manner, war's die Stadt allein (Kreon, Chorus) 05:22
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Ihr Manner, war's die Stadt allein (Kreon, Chorus)
    Duration
    05:22
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  7. 6 Act I: Mein Konig, diesmal plaudr' ich nicht (Wachter, Kreon) 04:30
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: Mein Konig, diesmal plaudr' ich nicht (Wachter, Kreon)
    Duration
    04:30
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Paul Kuën, Carlos Alexander
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  8. 7 Act I: Zuletzt, als weiter nichts zu forschen war, spricht einer (Wachter) 01:14
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I: Zuletzt, als weiter nichts zu forschen war, spricht einer (Wachter)
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Paul Kuën
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  9. 8 Act I: Mein Konig, lange rat, es mochte gottlich (Chorus, Kreon, Wachter) 05:34
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I: Mein Konig, lange rat, es mochte gottlich (Chorus, Kreon, Wachter)
    Duration
    05:34
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Paul Kuën
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  10. 9 Act II: Ungeheuer ist viel (Chorus) 05:37
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II: Ungeheuer ist viel (Chorus)
    Duration
    05:37
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  11. 10 Act II: Wie Gottes Versuchung aber steht es vor mir (Chorus, Wachter, Kreon) 05:25
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II: Wie Gottes Versuchung aber steht es vor mir (Chorus, Wachter, Kreon)
    Duration
    05:25
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Paul Kuën
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  12. 11 Act II: Du also, die zur Erde neigt das Haupt (Kreon, Antigonae, Chorus) 03:38
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II: Du also, die zur Erde neigt das Haupt (Kreon, Antigonae, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Martha Mödl
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  13. 12 Act II: Doch weisst Du wohl, dass allzu sprode sprach (Kreon, Antigonae) 04:04
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II: Doch weisst Du wohl, dass allzu sprode sprach (Kreon, Antigonae)
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Martha Mödl
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  14. 13 Act II: Aber jetzt kommt aus dem Tor Ismene (Chorus, Kreon, Ismene, Antigonae) 05:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II: Aber jetzt kommt aus dem Tor Ismene (Chorus, Kreon, Ismene, Antigonae)
    Duration
    05:42
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Martha Mödl, Marianne Radev, Carlos Alexander
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  15. 14 Act III: Gluckselige solcher Zeit, da man nicht schmecket das Ubel (Chorus) 06:42
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act III: Gluckselige solcher Zeit, da man nicht schmecket das Ubel (Chorus)
    Duration
    06:42
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  16. 15 Act III: Bald haben wohl, o Sohn, mehr als die Seher (Kreon, Hamon, Chorus) 04:14
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act III: Bald haben wohl, o Sohn, mehr als die Seher (Kreon, Hamon, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Fritz Uhl
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  17. 16 Act III: Als wie von Gott, himmlisch kommt die Besinnung (Hamon) 04:22
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act III: Als wie von Gott, himmlisch kommt die Besinnung (Hamon)
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Fritz Uhl
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  18. 17 Act III: Mein Konig, billig ist es, wenn er an der Zeit spricht (Chorus, Kreon, Hamon) 05:17
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act III: Mein Konig, billig ist es, wenn er an der Zeit spricht (Chorus, Kreon, Hamon)
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Fritz Uhl
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  19. Disc 2
  20. 1 Act III: Geist der Liebe, dennoch Sieger (Chorus, Soloist) 03:42
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III: Geist der Liebe, dennoch Sieger (Chorus, Soloist)
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Martha Mödl, Marianne Radev, William Dooley, Carlos Alexander, Paul Kuën, Fritz Uhl, Josef Traxel, Kurt Böhme, Lilian Bennigsen
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  21. 2 Act III: Jetzt aber komm'ich, eben, selber (Chorus, Antigonae) 08:04
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III: Jetzt aber komm'ich, eben, selber (Chorus, Antigonae)
    Duration
    08:04
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Martha Mödl
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  22. 3 Act III: O Grab! O Brautbett! (Antigonae, Chorus, Kreon) 07:03
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III: O Grab! O Brautbett! (Antigonae, Chorus, Kreon)
    Duration
    07:03
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Martha Mödl, Carlos Alexander
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  23. 4 Act IV: O des Landes Thebes vaterliche Stadt (Antigonae) 01:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act IV: O des Landes Thebes vaterliche Stadt (Antigonae)
    Duration
    01:01
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Martha Mödl
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  24. 5 Act IV: Der Leib auch Danaes musste (Chorus) 03:38
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act IV: Der Leib auch Danaes musste (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  25. 6 Act IV: Ihr Fursten Thebes! miteinander kommen (Tiresias, Kreon) 06:43
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act IV: Ihr Fursten Thebes! miteinander kommen (Tiresias, Kreon)
    Duration
    06:43
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Josef Traxel, Carlos Alexander
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  26. 7 Act IV: O Alter! alle, wie auf eines Schutzen Ziel (Kreon, Tiresias) 07:18
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act IV: O Alter! alle, wie auf eines Schutzen Ziel (Kreon, Tiresias)
    Duration
    07:18
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Josef Traxel
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  27. 8 Act IV: Der Mann, mein Konig, ging viel prophezeiend (Chorus, Kreon) 01:49
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act IV: Der Mann, mein Konig, ging viel prophezeiend (Chorus, Kreon)
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  28. 9 Act V: Namensshopfer, der du von den Wassern, welche Kadmos (Chorus) 02:40
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act V: Namensshopfer, der du von den Wassern, welche Kadmos (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  29. 10 Act V: O ihr des Kadmos Nachbarn und Amphios (Bote, Chorus) 03:52
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act V: O ihr des Kadmos Nachbarn und Amphios (Bote, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Kurt Böhme
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  30. 11 Act V: O all ihr Burger! eine Rede merkt' ich (Eurydice) 01:28
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act V: O all ihr Burger! eine Rede merkt' ich (Eurydice)
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Lilian Bennigsen
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  31. 12 Act V: Ich liebe Frau, sag' es, als Augenzeuge (Bote) 05:45
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act V: Ich liebe Frau, sag' es, als Augenzeuge (Bote)
    Duration
    05:45
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Kurt Böhme
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  32. 13 Act V: Wie nimmst du dies? Die Frau ging wieder weg (Chorus, Bote) 01:04
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act V: Wie nimmst du dies? Die Frau ging wieder weg (Chorus, Bote)
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Kurt Böhme
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  33. 14 Act V: Io! unsinnige Sinne! (Kreon, Chorus, Bote) 05:47
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act V: Io! unsinnige Sinne! (Kreon, Chorus, Bote)
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Kurt Böhme
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  34. 15 Act V: Weh! Weh! Weh! Weh! Mich beflugelt die Furcht (Kreon, Bote, Chorus) 04:00
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act V: Weh! Weh! Weh! Weh! Mich beflugelt die Furcht (Kreon, Bote, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Performer
    Carlos Alexander, Kurt Böhme
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch
  35. 16 Act V: Um vieles ist das Denken mehr (Chorus) 01:42
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act V: Um vieles ist das Denken mehr (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Carl Orff
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Wolfgang Sawallisch