What is the best "Carmina Burana" CD you've heard?

Have not heard all 25+ recordings of the C.B., the Stokowski could very well take top performance. Listen to how Stokowski takes the tempo and detail through out, but especially in the close, hear the "undulations". ( Stokowski's genius!, he missed nothing, Magician!) As well i prefered the Houston chorus more, had less of an "operatic sound"(vs the Berlin). (remember these are "cantiones profanae") Soprano Virginia Babikian sings In trutina with great,spectactular beauty and emotion. The DG vs EMI tract #21 sound totally different, i did not like the Janowitz version much, whereas the Babikian performance i could not live without. I felt the baritone, Guy Gardner had just the right tonal voice for the part. Just my impressions, you may find other versions more interesting.??

Stoki couldn't resist tweaking. He was the world's most prolific orchestral tweaker, and never above "improving" a composer's orchestration. He even recorded in stereo in the 1930's at Bell Labs. The tenor on his recording with the Houston Symphony is Clyde Hager, a very sweet man with a beautiful voice. I was privileged to sing with Clyde a few times here in Houston.

Travis, thanks for the interesting notes. "world's most prolific orchestral tweaker", "channeling the composers intentions" = "improving", is something i needed to hear. I guess i could have read something of this in Stokowski's biographies. But you said it well! When i first heard the Stokowski w/ the National S.O. performance of the Sibelius S.#1, i knew this man was a conductor with a profound understanding of music. My recent comparison of the Car. Bur. just confirmed the magical nature of his conducting. And the soloists are outstanding as well, just a perfect recording!! and that makes me very happy.