Popular, But Is It Any Good ?

Carl Orff's secular oratorio Carmina Burana is somewhat of a controversial work. Hugely popular, often programed by amateur choirs since it is such a good "sing" and beloved by advertising agency execs and researchers for background music to tv programmes, because it is packed with memorable tunes. Hard core classical fans tend to be disparaging about its' musical worth but it hangs together ok for me as a portrayal of village life in some vaguely situated middle ages location, occupying similar ground to other folk inspired epics. What may be more problematic is the case of Orff himself. Very much a one hit wonder in terms of preformed material, a cloud hangs over the extent to which he collaborated and sympathised with the Nazi regime. To such an extent that some commentators attribute some kind of crypto-fascism to Carmina Burana itself, which I really can't see. I haven't researched Orff's background sufficiently closely, similar doubts hang over the reputation of Richard Strauss and many conductors and performers, not to mention the big elephant Wagner. Maybe it's a cop out but I'm content to occasionally enjoy the spectacle of the piece for what it is. This recording is from the sixties by the Chor und Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin conducted by Eugen Jochum with soloists soprano Gundula Janowitz, tenor Gerhard Stolze and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.