Album

Some listeners assert that Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan made his best recordings for Deutsche Grammophon in the late '70s, while others argue he did his best work for EMI in the middle '50s. But there are those, a minority but not an altogether insignificant minority, who say he made his best recordings for Decca in the early '60s. This nine-disc collection of those recordings makes a highly persuasive case for that point of view.

Working with the Wiener Philharmoniker and Decca producers John Culshaw and Erik Smith, Karajan got virtuoso performances from both the orchestra and the recording team. The Viennese musicians play with their characteristic ease and elegance, and their richly upholstered ensemble sounds lush and deep in everything from the surging rhythms of Holst's "Mars" to the heroic climaxes of Brahms' First. Culshaw and Smith capture their performances in stereo sound that rivals the best digital recordings in color and clarity and surpasses them in presence in everything from the shimmering winds in Grieg's Peer Gynt to the bludgeoning timpani of Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Because he was working with the self-governing Viennese orchestra, Karajan was less domineering than he was in his later Deutsche Grammophon recordings with the Berliner Philharmoniker, the orchestra he ran as music director. These performances have a sense of measured strength that his DG recordings can't match; listen to the supple intensity of his tempos in Beethoven's Seventh. And because he was working with the Viennese orchestra, he was more relaxed than he was in his EMI recordings working with the Philharmonia, a studio orchestra that worked for producer Walter Legge, and these performances have a feeling of relaxed power that the EMI recordings can't touch; check out the burnished warmth of his Brahms' Third. In short, anyone who admires Karajan should certainly hear these recordings. And anyone who doesn't admire him might do well to check them out as well since they show a side of his work that is less often heard.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 9
Johannes Brahms Composer Symphony No.1 in C-, Op.68 Work Recorded 1959 45:35 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Un poco sostenuto. Allegro	13:56			$2.49
2	2.Andante sostenuto	9:09			$1.49
3	3.Un poco allegretto e grazioso	4:57			$0.99
4	4.Adagio. Piu andante. Allegro non troppo, ma con brio	17:33			$2.99
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.103 in Eb ('Drum Roll'), Hob.I:103 Work Recorded 1963 30:06 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Adagio. Allegro con spirito	9:52			$1.49
6	2.Andante più tosto allegretto	9:21			$1.49
7	3.Menuetto	5:28			$0.99
8	4.Finale: Allegro con spirito	5:25			$0.99
CD 2 of 9
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.104 in D ('London'), Hob.I:104 Work Recorded 1963 26:16 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Adagio. Allegro	8:52			$1.49
2	2.Andante	8:15			$1.49
3	3.Menuetto and Trio: Allegro	4:22			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Allegro spiritoso	4:47			$0.99
Johannes Brahms Composer Tragic Overture in D-, Op.81 Work Recorded 1961 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	Tragic Overture in D-, Op.81	14:01			$2.49
Johannes Brahms Composer Symphony No.3 in F, Op.90 Work Recorded 1960 32:57 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
6	1.Allegro con brio	9:44			$1.49
7	2.Andante	8:13			$1.49
8	3.Poco allegretto	5:54			$0.99
9	4.Finale: Allegro	9:06			$1.49
CD 3 of 9
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Symphony No.40 in G-, K.550 Work Recorded 1960 24:24 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Molto allegro	7:46			$1.49
2	2.Andante	7:41			$1.49
3	3.Menuetto: Allegretto	4:22			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Allegro assai	4:35			$0.99
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Symphony No.41 in C, K.551 ('Jupiter') Work Recorded 1963 28:20 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Allegro vivace	8:33			$1.49
6	2.Andante cantabile	8:26			$1.49
7	3.Menuetto: Allegretto	5:09			$0.99
8	4.Finale: Molto allegro	6:12			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Romeo and Juliet (fantasy overture) Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
9	Romeo and Juliet (fantasy overture)	20:34			$3.49
CD 4 of 9
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92 Work Recorded 1959 35:00 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Poco sostenuto. Vivace	11:51			$1.99
2	2.Allegretto	8:41			$1.49
3	3.Scherzo: Presto	7:43			$1.49
4	4.Finale: Allegro con brio	6:45			$0.99
Antonín (Leopold) Dvořák Composer Symphony No.8 in G, B.163, Op.88 (first published as No.4) Work Recorded 1961 36:36 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Allegro con brio	9:50			$1.49
6	2.Adagio	11:07			$1.99
7	3.Scherzo: Allegretto grazioso	6:05			$0.99
8	4.Allegro ma non troppo	9:34			$1.49
CD 5 of 9
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer The Swan Lake (suite from the ballet), Op.20a Work Recorded 1965 25:44 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Josef Sivo Violin, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Emanuel Brabec Cello
1	1.Scène	2:39			$0.99
2	2.Valse	7:06			$1.49
3	3.Danse des petits cygnes (Dance of the Little Swans)	1:31			$0.49
4	4.Scène: Danse des cygnes (Dance of the Swans)	6:32			$0.99
5	5.Danse Hongrois: Csárdas (Hungarian Dance: Czardas)	3:37			$0.99
6	6.Scène	4:19			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Nutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a Work Recorded 1961 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
7	1.Miniature Overture	3:35			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Nutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a...2.Danses caractéristiques Work Recorded 1961 12:12 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	1.Marche	2:39			$0.99
9	2.Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy	1:37			$0.49
10	3.Russian Dance: Trepak	1:08			$0.49
11	4.Arabian Dance: Coffee	2:58			$0.99
12	5.Chinese Dance: Tea	1:16			$0.49
13	6.Dance of the Reed Flutes	2:34			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Nutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a Work Recorded 1961 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
14	3.Waltz of the Flowers	6:01			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer The Sleeping Beauty (suite from the ballet), Op.66a Work Recorded 1965 21:39 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
15	1.Introduction: Dance of the Lilac Fairy	5:17			$0.99
16	2.Adagio. Pas d'action. Andante	6:33			$0.99
17	3.Pas de caractère: Puss 'n Boots	2:03			$0.99
18	4.Panorama	3:35			$0.99
19	5.Valse	4:11			$0.99
CD 6 of 9
Adolphe Adam Composer Giselle (ballet)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1961 28:19 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Josef Sivo Violin, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Emanuel Brabec Cello
1	1.Introduction	2:19			$0.99
2	2.Les vendangeurs	0:56			$0.49
3	3.Entrée du Prince	1:09			$0.49
4	4.Prince est resté seul; Entrée de Giselle	4:34			$0.99
5	6.Retour des vendangeurs; 7.Valse	3:38			$0.99
6	8.Pas de deux	2:14			$0.99
7	9.La chasse	1:53			$0.49
8	10.Marche des vignerons	2:00			$0.99
9	11.Variation de Giselle	1:41			$0.49
10	12.Galop général	1:20			$0.49
11	13.Hilarion s'élance au milieu de la foule; 14.Scène de folie 1; 15.Scène de folie 2	6:35			$0.99
Adolphe Adam Composer Giselle (ballet)...Act 2 Work Recorded 1961 31:46 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Josef Sivo Violin, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Emanuel Brabec Cello
12	3.Apparition et scène de Myrthe	11:41			$1.99
13	5.Apparition de Giselle	1:52			$0.49
14	6.Entrée de Loys. Pas de deux	5:59			$0.99
15	10.Scène des Wilis (Entrée d'Hilarion)	0:39			$0.49
16	12.Grand pas de deux (Giselle et Albrecht)	4:26			$0.99
17	14.Variation de Loys	0:32			$0.49
18	15.Variation de Giselle	3:00			$0.99
19	17.Finale	3:37			$0.99
CD 7 of 9
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 Work Recorded 1961 14:38 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Morgenstemning (Morning Mood)	3:59			$0.99
2	2.Aases død (The Death of Åse)	4:43			$0.99
3	3.Anitras dans (Anitra's Dance)	3:31			$0.99
4	4.Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King)	2:25			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt Suite No.2, Op.55 Work Recorded 1961 9:53 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.The Abduction: Ingrid's Lament	4:18			$0.99
6	4.Solveig's Song	5:35			$0.99
Gustav Holst Composer The Planets, suite for orchestra and female chorus, Op.32, H.125 Work Recorded 1961 48:33 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Damen des Wiener Staatsopernchors Chorus/Choir, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
7	1.Mars: The Bringer of War	6:58			$0.99
8	2.Venus: The Bringer of Peace	8:17			$1.49
9	3.Mercury: The Winged Messenger	3:55			$0.99
10	4.Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity; 5.Saturn: The Bringer of Old Age	7:35			$1.49
11	5.Saturn: The Bringer of Old Age	8:30			$1.49
12	6.Uranus: The Magician; 7.Neptune: The Mystic	5:43			$0.99
13	7.Neptune: The Mystic	7:35			$1.49
CD 8 of 9
Johann Strauss II Composer Die Fledermaus (The Bat; operetta), RV503...Act 1 Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Ouvertüre	8:03			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Die Fledermaus (The Bat; operetta), RV503...Act 2 Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
2	15d.Ballett: Allegretto moderato. Schottisch. Russisch	7:03			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Annen Polka, Op.117 Work Recorded 1959 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
3	Annen Polka, Op.117	4:10			$0.99
Josef Strauss Composer Delirien Waltz, for orchestra, Op.212 Work Recorded 1959 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
4	Delirien Waltz, for orchestra, Op.212	8:21			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron; operetta), RV511...Act 1 Work Recorded 1959 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Overture	8:00			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Auf der Jagd (Off to the Hunt), polka schnell, Op.373 Work Recorded 1959 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
6	Auf der Jagd (Off to the Hunt), polka schnell, Op.373	2:13			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325 Work Recorded 1959 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
7	Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325	11:42			$1.99
Richard Strauss Composer Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op.28, Trv171 Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op.28, Trv171	14:57			$2.49
Richard Strauss Composer Salome, Op.54, TrV215 (music drama)...Scene 4 Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
9	5.Tanz der sieben Schleier (Dance of the Seven Veils)	9:26			$1.49
CD 9 of 9
Richard Strauss Composer Don Juan, Op.20, TrV156 Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	Don Juan, Op.20, TrV156	17:05			$2.99
Richard Strauss Composer Tod und Verklärung, Op.24, TrV158 Work Recorded 1960 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
2	Tod und Verklärung, Op.24, TrV158	23:54			$3.99
Richard Strauss Composer Also sprach Zarathustra, Op.30, TrV176 Work Recorded 1959 33:21 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
3	1.Einleitung (Introduction: Sunrise)	1:45			$0.49
4	2.Von den Hinterweltlern (Of the Backworldsmen)	3:35			$0.99
5	3.Von der großen Sehnsucht (Of the Great Longing)	1:57			$0.49
6	4.Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften (Of Joys and Passions)	1:54			$0.49
7	5.Das Grablied (The Song of the Grave)	2:23			$0.99
8	6.Von der Wissenschaft (Of Science and Learning)	4:19			$0.99
9	7.Der Genesende (The Convalescent)	5:07			$0.99
10	8.Das Tanzlied (The Dance-Song)	7:42			$1.49
11	9.Nachtwandlerlied (Song of the Night Wanderer)	4:39			$0.99