Misrepresentation
This is not about the recording but more about Amazon. I just recently bought this item and I have to say that the sample recordings featured on this page is NOT the same recording on the CD. I can't find a way to contact Amazon, but I thought I'd let everyone know.

ORFF NEVER HEARD THIS VERSION!
I would like to clear up some confusion: THIS IS NOT THE RECORDED PERFORMANCE THAT CARL ORFF CONDONED!! Orff attended the rehearsals of Eugen Jochum's earlier **1953** mono recording of Carmina Burana and approved that final performance. That version is available on another DGG recording of all three pieces Orff wrote in a similar vein; the album is entitled "Trionfi". The 1953 recording presents a very different version than this stereo one that Jochum recorded 15 years later in 1968 AND WHICH ORFF DID NOT HEAR!! The earlier version is grittier, perhaps not as smoothly played or expertly sung, but altogether more primal and exciting. The early mono sound of that 1953 version is very good, easily the equal of the stereo sound except for the sound-stage, and the performance is far superior. This later one is sluggish by comparison.

If you want to hear how Orff wanted this piece to sound, buy the "Trionfi" album and enjoy it. Orff certainly did!

Wanted to give this 5 stars...
... but I cannot, based on the oftentimes sluggish tempi, and the absolutely horrendous performance of "Olim lacus colueram" by Stolze. Fischer-Dieskau is excellent, as always, and Janowitz remains, in my opinion, one of the most egregiously overlooked sopranos of the last century or so. This CD is worth buying for her sparkling renditions of "Stetit Puella," "In trutina," and "Dulcissime" alone.

What makes this a classic? The fact that it was approved by the composer?
Well, this performance was approved by the composer(Yeah!!!Congrats!!!)
Does this makes it a definitive performance? Of course not, then again, how many versions aren't there of the Bruckner symphonies? and we like them all and then again Orff is not Bruckner. Orff is know for only this work.
The sound world in this recording is different from say a recording by
Mutti, or Detoit. DG should have picked a different performance for this
most excellent collection of "The Originals"

Best pagen music around
I have heard four versions of Carmina Burana over the years. I found this performance the best to date, to which my daughter agrees.

Gerardus M. Smit