Carl Orff (1895-1982)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2009

Munich In The Weimar Republic

20090810

This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.

Donald Macleod is joined by Professor Michael Kater to explore the life and music of Carl Orff.

They focus on Orff's early years, as he struggled to establish himself as a composer in a reactionary Munich. His tendencies seemed to be left-leaning, but he generally steered clear of controversy.

Opener: Uf dem anger (Carmina Burana) - arr for wind ensemble

Blaser Ensemble Mainz

Klaus Rainer Scholl (conductor)

Wergo WER 6174-2, Tr 6

Drei Lieder und Gesange nach Texten von Klabund

Mechthild Bach (soprano)

Wolfgang Brunner (piano)

Wergo WER 6279-2, Trs 23-25

Kleines Konzert

Wergo WER 6174-2, Trs 1-5

Klage der Ariadne

Rose Wagemann (mezzo-soprano)

Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Munchner Rundfunkorchester

Kurt Eichhorn (conductor)

Acanta 44 2090-2, Trs 1-6

Vom Fruhjahr, Oltank und vom Fliegen/of Springtime, an Oil Tank and Flying

Carl Orff Choir

Arthur Gross (conductor)

Wergo WER 4006-50, Trs 13-15.

Donald Macleod focuses on Orff's early career in 1920s Munich.

2009

A New Regime

20090811

This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.

Donald Macleod and Michael Kater discuss the way Orff's life and work were shaped by the beginning of the Third Reich, and the Nazi reaction to his 1937 work Carmina Burana.

Catulli Carmina I and II (1930-1) - Aus Catulli Carmina

Carl Orff Choir

Arthur Gross (conductor)

WER 4006-50, Tr 18

Schulwerk (excerpts)

Tolzer Boys Choir

Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden (conductor)

Chamber Choir of the Munich National College of Music

Fritz Schieri (conductor)

Stuttgart Chorus

Heinz Mende (conductor)

BMG Conifer 75605513572, Trs 18, 24, 25, 31, 32

Ein Sommernachtstraum (excerpts)

Orchestra of the Staatstheaters am Gartnerplatz, Munich

Klaus E Schneider (conductor)

RCA 74321735202, Trs 1-5

Carmina Burana - Part 1

Berliner Philharmonic

Simon Rattle (conductor)

EMI 7243 5 578888 2 5, Trs 1-10.

Donald Macleod on how Orff's life and work were shaped by the start of the Third Reich.

2009

Fairytales (second World War)

20090812

This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.

Donald Macleod and Michael Kater discuss how, though Carl Orff lived through one of the most horrific epochs in mankind's history, he tended to look the other way, seeking inspiration in fairy tales and Greek myths.

Opener: Der Mond I. Tanz - arr for wind ensemble

Blaser Ensemble Mainz

Klaus Rainer Scholl (conductor)

Wergo WER 6174-2, Tr 11

Narrator - Rudolf Christ

Four fellows who steal the moon - Karl Schmitt-Walter, Helmut Graml, Paul Kuen, Peter Lagger

A farmer - Albrecht Peter

Philharmonia Orchestra

Wolfgang Sawallisch (conductor)

EMI CMS 7 63712 2 CD 2, Trs 1-3

Die Kluge

King - Marcel Cordes

Donkey-man - Rudolf Christ

Mule-driver - Benno Kusche

First, Second and Third vagabonds - Paul Kuen, Hermann Prey, Gustav Neidlinger

Gaoler - Georg Wieter

The farmer's daughter/The clever girl - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

EMI CMS 7 63712 2 CD 1, Trs 8-10

Carmina Burana Part 3

Berliner Philharmonic

Simon Rattle (conductor)

EMI 7243 5 578888 2 5, Trs 15-25.

Donald Macleod discusses Orff's inspirations, which included fairy tales and ancient myths

2009

The White Rose

20090813

This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.

Donald Macleod and Michael Kater discuss Orff's behaviour during the Second World War and immediately afterwards, when he needed to prove to the American authorities that he hadn't collaborated with the Nazi government.

Rundadinella (Schulwerk)

Tolzer Boys Choir

Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden (conductor)

BMG Conifer 75605513572, Tr 16

Antigonae

Antigone - Inge Bork

Bavarian Radio Chorus

Bavarian Symphony Orchestra

Ferdinand Leitner (conductor)

DG 437 721-2, CD 3 Trs 1-2

Mir is so wundrig/So strange I feel (Die Bernauerin - 1944-6)

Horst Laubenthal (tenor solo)

Agnes - Christine Ostermayer

Albrecht - Gerhart Lippert

Munich Radio Orchestra

Kurt Eichhorn (conductor)

Orfeo C 255912 H, CD1 Tr 6

Oedipus der Tyrann (excerpt from Act 1)

Kreon - Kieth Engen

Oedipus - Gerhard Stolze

A Priest - Karl Christian Kohn

Bavarian Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra

Rafael Kubelik (conductor)

DG 4370292, CD 1 Trs 3-8

Sunt lacrimae rerum

Carl Orff Choir

Arthur Gross (conductor)

WER 4006-50, Trs 19-21.

Donald Macleod on Orff's behaviour during the Second World War and immediately afterwards.

2009

05 LAST

Father, I Have Sinned

20090814

This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial.

Michael Kater and Donald Macleod consider whether Orff was experiencing feelings of guilt in later life, looking at his final works and his personal correspondence.

Opener (Gunild Keetman): Gassenhauer - Street song (Schulwerk)

Instrumental Ensemble

BMG Conifer 75605513572, Tr 19

Nanie und Dithyrambe

Czech Philharmonic Chorus

Vaclav Smetacek (conductor)

Supraphon 1137 Side 2, Trs 1-2

Prometheus desmotes

Prometheus - Roland Hermann

Bavarian Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra

Rafael Kubelik (conductor)

Orfeo C5269921 CD 1, Tr 3 (fade out)

De temporum fine comoedia

Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano)

Peter Schreier (tenor)

Josef Greindl, Rolf Boysen (bass)

Tolzer Boys Choir

RIAS Chamber Choir

Cologne Radio Chorus

Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra

Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

DG 429 859-2, Trs 13-18.

Donald Macleod explores Orff's final works and personal correspondence.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2009	01	Munich In The Weimar Republic	20090810	This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial. Donald Macleod is joined by Professor Michael Kater to explore the life and music of Carl Orff. They focus on Orff's early years, as he struggled to establish himself as a composer in a reactionary Munich. His tendencies seemed to be left-leaning, but he generally steered clear of controversy. Opener: Uf dem anger (Carmina Burana) - arr for wind ensemble Blaser Ensemble Mainz Klaus Rainer Scholl (conductor) Wergo WER 6174-2, Tr 6 Drei Lieder und Gesange nach Texten von Klabund Mechthild Bach (soprano) Wolfgang Brunner (piano) Wergo WER 6279-2, Trs 23-25 Kleines Konzert Wergo WER 6174-2, Trs 1-5 Klage der Ariadne Rose Wagemann (mezzo-soprano) Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks Munchner Rundfunkorchester Kurt Eichhorn (conductor) Acanta 44 2090-2, Trs 1-6 Vom Fruhjahr, Oltank und vom Fliegen/of Springtime, an Oil Tank and Flying Carl Orff Choir Arthur Gross (conductor) Wergo WER 4006-50, Trs 13-15. Donald Macleod focuses on Orff's early career in 1920s Munich.
2009	02	A New Regime	20090811	This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial. Donald Macleod and Michael Kater discuss the way Orff's life and work were shaped by the beginning of the Third Reich, and the Nazi reaction to his 1937 work Carmina Burana. Catulli Carmina I and II (1930-1) - Aus Catulli Carmina Carl Orff Choir Arthur Gross (conductor) WER 4006-50, Tr 18 Schulwerk (excerpts) Tolzer Boys Choir Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden (conductor) Chamber Choir of the Munich National College of Music Fritz Schieri (conductor) Stuttgart Chorus Heinz Mende (conductor) BMG Conifer 75605513572, Trs 18, 24, 25, 31, 32 Ein Sommernachtstraum (excerpts) Orchestra of the Staatstheaters am Gartnerplatz, Munich Klaus E Schneider (conductor) RCA 74321735202, Trs 1-5 Carmina Burana - Part 1 Berliner Philharmonic Simon Rattle (conductor) EMI 7243 5 578888 2 5, Trs 1-10. Donald Macleod on how Orff's life and work were shaped by the start of the Third Reich.
2009	03	Fairytales (second World War)	20090812	This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial. Donald Macleod and Michael Kater discuss how, though Carl Orff lived through one of the most horrific epochs in mankind's history, he tended to look the other way, seeking inspiration in fairy tales and Greek myths. Opener: Der Mond I. Tanz - arr for wind ensemble Blaser Ensemble Mainz Klaus Rainer Scholl (conductor) Wergo WER 6174-2, Tr 11 Narrator - Rudolf Christ Four fellows who steal the moon - Karl Schmitt-Walter, Helmut Graml, Paul Kuen, Peter Lagger A farmer - Albrecht Peter Philharmonia Orchestra Wolfgang Sawallisch (conductor) EMI CMS 7 63712 2 CD 2, Trs 1-3 Die Kluge King - Marcel Cordes Donkey-man - Rudolf Christ Mule-driver - Benno Kusche First, Second and Third vagabonds - Paul Kuen, Hermann Prey, Gustav Neidlinger Gaoler - Georg Wieter The farmer's daughter/The clever girl - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf EMI CMS 7 63712 2 CD 1, Trs 8-10 Carmina Burana Part 3 Berliner Philharmonic Simon Rattle (conductor) EMI 7243 5 578888 2 5, Trs 15-25. Donald Macleod discusses Orff's inspirations, which included fairy tales and ancient myths
2009	04	The White Rose	20090813	This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial. Donald Macleod and Michael Kater discuss Orff's behaviour during the Second World War and immediately afterwards, when he needed to prove to the American authorities that he hadn't collaborated with the Nazi government. Rundadinella (Schulwerk) Tolzer Boys Choir Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden (conductor) BMG Conifer 75605513572, Tr 16 Antigonae Antigone - Inge Bork Bavarian Radio Chorus Bavarian Symphony Orchestra Ferdinand Leitner (conductor) DG 437 721-2, CD 3 Trs 1-2 Mir is so wundrig/So strange I feel (Die Bernauerin - 1944-6) Horst Laubenthal (tenor solo) Agnes - Christine Ostermayer Albrecht - Gerhart Lippert Munich Radio Orchestra Kurt Eichhorn (conductor) Orfeo C 255912 H, CD1 Tr 6 Oedipus der Tyrann (excerpt from Act 1) Kreon - Kieth Engen Oedipus - Gerhard Stolze A Priest - Karl Christian Kohn Bavarian Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra Rafael Kubelik (conductor) DG 4370292, CD 1 Trs 3-8 Sunt lacrimae rerum Carl Orff Choir Arthur Gross (conductor) WER 4006-50, Trs 19-21. Donald Macleod on Orff's behaviour during the Second World War and immediately afterwards.
2009	05 LAST	Father, I Have Sinned	20090814	This episode is available until midday on Friday, 21st August as part of the Series Catch-up Trial. Michael Kater and Donald Macleod consider whether Orff was experiencing feelings of guilt in later life, looking at his final works and his personal correspondence. Opener (Gunild Keetman): Gassenhauer - Street song (Schulwerk) Instrumental Ensemble BMG Conifer 75605513572, Tr 19 Nanie und Dithyrambe Czech Philharmonic Chorus Vaclav Smetacek (conductor) Supraphon 1137 Side 2, Trs 1-2 Prometheus desmotes Prometheus - Roland Hermann Bavarian Radio Chorus and Symphony Orchestra Rafael Kubelik (conductor) Orfeo C5269921 CD 1, Tr 3 (fade out) De temporum fine comoedia Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano) Peter Schreier (tenor) Josef Greindl, Rolf Boysen (bass) Tolzer Boys Choir RIAS Chamber Choir Cologne Radio Chorus Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra Herbert von Karajan (conductor) DG 429 859-2, Trs 13-18. Donald Macleod explores Orff's final works and personal correspondence.