Top 5 Karajan Recordings

[DarkAngel]

More info for VPO/Andante 9th from booklet:

Recorded 5/8/78, Nowak edition, source of tapes Austrian Radio ORF

1)23:04
2)10:23
3)24:26

Total 57:55

M
Does this info match the Bruckner 9th contained on your DVD version?
Or is Andante 9th another performance

[M forever]

I can't get to the DVD right now because I just moved from San Diego to Boston, and my entire CD collection is packed up in boxes which are in my new company's warehouse. But, like I said, I think they are the same as I seem to recall some features like the little horn problem on the last note are the same.

[squarez]

The top 5 Karajan recordings, IMHO, are:

Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem with Schwarzkopff and Hans Hotter - EMI
Wagner Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg (1951) - EMI
Schoenberg, Berg, Webern: Orchestral Works - DG
Honegger Sym 2 & 3; Stravinsky Concerto - DG
Wagner Concert with Jessye Norman - DG

[BorisG]

I can't get to the DVD right now because I just moved from San Diego to Boston, and my entire CD collection is packed up in boxes which are in my new company's warehouse. But, like I said, I think they are the same as I seem to recall some features like the little horn problem on the last note are the same.

From similar discussions a few years ago on another website, they are the same performances. Someone also added that the DVD (compared to Andante) had better sound.

Unfortunately, those discussions involved identity and sound, and little if anything about the quality of performance.

This 1978 performance on the new DVD has peaked my interest, since I did not care for two other 1970's recordings for performance and sound issues--the 1974 BPO/Karajan (DG), and 1976 VPO/Karajan (DG).

[M forever]

From similar discussions a few years ago on another website, they are the same performances. Someone also added that the DVD (compared to Andante) had better sound.

Unfortunately, those discussions involved identity and sound, and little if anything about the quality of performance.

This 1978 performance on the new DVD has peaked my interest, since I did not care for two other 1970's recordings for performance and sound issues--the 1974 BPO/Karajan (DG), and 1976 VPO/Karajan (DG).

I am not aware of the latter. Is that on Festpieldokumente, the series of live recordings from Salzburg DG released once?

[head-case]

I am not aware of the latter. Is that on Festpieldokumente, the series of live recordings from Salzburg DG released once?

I find I have a live recording of Bruckner 9, Karajan, VPO, July 25, 1976, issued  by DG in 1991.  It was part of a set commemorating the 150th aniversary of the VPO.

[DarkAngel]

From similar discussions a few years ago on another website, they are the same performances. Someone also added that the DVD (compared to Andante) had better sound.

Unfortunately, those discussions involved identity and sound, and little if anything about the quality of performance.

This 1978 performance on the new DVD has peaked my interest, since I did not care for two other 1970's recordings for performance and sound issues--the 1974 BPO/Karajan (DG), and 1976 VPO/Karajan (DG).

Now I am interested in the DVD since the 9th is the same as Andante which I love, anyone comment on the Bruckner 8th (1979 St Florian) on the DVD?

Where is best place to scoop up a new or preferably used copy set for USA players?

[BorisG]

Now I am interested in the DVD since the 9th is the same as Andante which I love, anyone comment on the Bruckner 8th (1979 St Florian) on the DVD?

Where is best place to scoop up a new or preferably used copy set for USA players?

You Tube has the St. Florian 8 Scherzo, taken from an older video.
Amazon.ca has the new DVD Feb. 26 (NTSC format).
A review of the new DVD- http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/boult/bruckner.html

[DarkAngel]

You Tube has the St. Florian 8 Scherzo, taken from an older video.
Amazon.ca has the new DVD Feb. 26 (NTSC format).
A review of the new DVD- http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/boult/bruckner.html

Thanks for the info..........that review is understating things a bit IMO as far as the VPO 9th goes, the most intense and dramatic Bruckner I have ever heard from Karajan, never thought of it as being dark "gothic" style but I guess that is one way to look at it. Another transcendant experience is Karajan/VPO/DG 7th close of movement 1, just overwhelming in its massive build up and release......a soaring cathedral of sound for sure

What a great HVK Bruckner VPO 7,8,9 set you can make using the live 1978 VPO 9th with HVKs final DG/VPO 7,8

[M forever]

Probably a pirate. An online Bruckner discography lists VHS, Laserdisc, and Japan DVD for previous video releases of the 1978 9.

Could be, but it "looks" too official and too professionally produced to be a pirate. It could even be the Japanese release, all I remember is that I got it from a Chinese seller on ebay.

BTW, there is also a DVD (at least in Japan) of a live 9th from 1985 in Berlin. I went to the concert and remember it was filmed by German TV (one of the camera man actually made some big noise in the slow movement, I wonder if that is audible in the video). There are some clips from that video on youtube.

[Dundonnell]

There is a vitriolic article about von Karajan  by Ivan Hewett in today's 'Daily Telegraph'(UK)-


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/03/13/bmivan113.xml

In the article Hewett states that "no one ever nominates Karajan's recording of a work as their favourite...".

Surely this is arrant nonsense and appallingly presumptuous arrogance?

Can I suggest the Karajan versions of Bruckner's 8th with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sibelius's 4th and any of his interpretations of the Strauss tone poems?

My particular guide to recorded music-"The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music"-certainly gives a number of Karajan performances as favourites. The editors of the Penguin Guide include Edward Greenfield and Robert Layton whose records as music critics over the years are a great deal more impressive than that of Mr. Hewett.

[Haffner]

There is a vitriolic article about von Karajan  by Ivan Hewett in today's 'Daily Telegraph'(UK)-


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/03/13/bmivan113.xml


Can I suggest the Karajan versions of Bruckner's 8th with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sibelius's 4th and any of his interpretations of the Strauss tone poems?

My particular guide to recorded music-"The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music"-certainly gives a number of Karajan performances as favourites. The editors of the Penguin Guide include Edward Greenfield and Robert Layton whose records as music critics over the years are a great deal more impressive than that of Mr. Hewett.

The guy whom wrote that was an obvious idiot. I'd throw in the Mahler 6th and 9th, as well as 1962 Beethoven Symphonies 1-5 and 7-9 as well.

[Tsaraslondon]

The guy whom wrote that was an obvious idiot. I'd throw in the Mahler 6th and 9th, as well as 1962 Beethoven Symphonies 1-5 and 7-9 as well.

What an appallingly ill considered and ill researched article. Another example of how this constant dumming down is now spreading to what used to be called the broadsheets, the so-called serious press. I find it all so very dispiriting.

[Haffner]

What an appallingly ill considered and ill researched article. Another example of how this constant dumming down is now spreading to what used to be called the broadsheets, the so-called serious press. I find it all so very dispiriting.

Yeah! Not to mention plain dumb.

[Lisztianwagner]

Herbert von Karajan is definitely my favourite conductor, he was able to extract beautiful sounds from every orchestras he played with and to realize a great harmony between the chords! His style of conducting was very involving, so elegeant, refined, passionate! 
His music sometimes sounded a bit too spick and span, but this made people be able to appreciate musical works of many different periods.
Karajan recorded a lot masterpieces , especially those ones of the Romantic era; I think he was a master in performing German Romantic music.

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
Beethoven: Symphonies Cycle
Bruckner: Symphony No.8
R. Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie/Also Sprach Zarathustra
Dvořák: Symphony No.9

Ilaria

[Renfield]

We have a nice Karajan Legacy thread somewhere, although with me gone for a while, I bet it's full of cobwebs.

Edit: By no means am I saying there aren't people on this forum who like Karajan, though.

Just not necessarily enough to prattle on about him like I tend to, given the opportunity!

[knight66]

Three years ago on this thread I listed five recordings. Before looking back I listed my current thoughts: they are different.

Mahler 9 live
Rosenkavalier Schwarzkopf
Beethoven Missa Solemnis Janowitz
Meistersingers: Dresden
Bruckner 5

Mike

[Renfield]

Three years ago on this thread I listed five recordings. Before looking back I listed my current thoughts: they are different.

Mahler 9 live

Now there's a welcome addition, compared to last time.

[knight66]

I did not ever hear that Mahler performance until I bought the DG anniversary box last year. Now I put it along side the EMI Barbirolli.

Karajan is more Zen that B in that final movement, but provides an almost equal emotional punch in the first movement.

Mike

[Renfield]

Zen is really the keyword for the whole thing - in rather interesting contrast to the studio recording from two years earlier, where things are more in line with the rest of his (admittedly all studio-recorded) very formalist Mahler.

Edit: And I love the Barbirolli too! Very passionate, even if Karajan's Zen wins me over every time.