Altos or counter-tenors when singing naturally are usually baritones and this really shows up in this case as just not right. The liner notes include a colour rendition of the initial performance as opposed to the black and white photo in New Groves. Budget This is not one of the better Naxos discs. Clear if slightly cavernous sound, a workmanlike if rather dour and unimaginative chorus, and solid if unspectacular conducting. Kusnjer has wavery pitch, Jenisova is slippery on high notes.
Packaging is scrappy and no libretto is included.
Full price Classic CD magazine votes this recording is top. Not everything is ideal. A strong team of soloists making the CD hard to beat in years to come. Previn's 1975 analogue version, vividly recorded, still leads the available recorded performances of Orff's most popular work. It is strong on humour and rhythmic point.