ORFF. Carmina Burana. Virginia Babikian ® (soprano), Clyde Hager (tenor), Guy Gardner (baritone), Houston Chorale, Houston Youth Symphony Boys' Choir and Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Classics for Pleasure CFP4031 1 (1 85). From Capitol S P8470 (3/61).

Anyone picking this record up on impulse should feel they have value for money—any good record costing under (2 these days must be considered a bargain. Obviously with Stokowski in charge the performance has its elements of sensuous colour and electricity, but these are not too well projected by the recording itself which is recessed and resonant. It has atmosphere (witness the evocative opening) but less in the way of impact and the bite so necessary with Orff's choral ostinatos. The soloists too are adequate rather than distinguished. One other drawback is the pressing itself. I listened to a labelled commercial copy which had a few clicks and these were the more noticeable because of the relatively low level of cut. There was also a considerable amount of pre- and post-echo. 1. M.