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Karajan: The Legendary Decca RecordingsVienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan Conductor
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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 | ||||||
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Johannes Brahms ComposerSymphony No.1 in C-, Op.68 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 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 ComposerSymphony No.103 in Eb ('Drum Roll'), Hob.I:103 WorkRecorded 1963 |
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| 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 ComposerSymphony No.104 in D ('London'), Hob.I:104 WorkRecorded 1963 |
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| 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 ComposerTragic Overture in D-, Op.81 WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 5 | Tragic Overture in D-, Op.81 | 14:01 | $2.49 | |||
Johannes Brahms ComposerSymphony No.3 in F, Op.90 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 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 ComposerSymphony No.40 in G-, K.550 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 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 ComposerSymphony No.41 in C, K.551 ('Jupiter') WorkRecorded 1963 |
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| 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 ComposerRomeo and Juliet (fantasy overture) WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 9 | Romeo and Juliet (fantasy overture) | 20:34 | $3.49 | |||
| CD 4 of 9 | ||||||
Ludwig van Beethoven ComposerSymphony No.7 in A, Op.92 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 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 ComposerSymphony No.8 in G, B.163, Op.88 (first published as No.4) WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 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 ComposerThe Swan Lake (suite from the ballet), Op.20a WorkRecorded 1965
Herbert von Karajan Conductor,
Josef Sivo Violin,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra,
Emanuel Brabec Cello
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| 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 ComposerNutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 7 | 1.Miniature Overture | 3:35 | $0.99 | |||
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky ComposerNutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a...2.Danses caractéristiques WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 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 ComposerNutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 14 | 3.Waltz of the Flowers | 6:01 | $0.99 | |||
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky ComposerThe Sleeping Beauty (suite from the ballet), Op.66a WorkRecorded 1965 |
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| 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 ComposerGiselle (ballet)...Act 1 WorkRecorded 1961
Herbert von Karajan Conductor,
Josef Sivo Violin,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra,
Emanuel Brabec Cello
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| 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 ComposerGiselle (ballet)...Act 2 WorkRecorded 1961
Herbert von Karajan Conductor,
Josef Sivo Violin,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra,
Emanuel Brabec Cello
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| 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 ComposerPeer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 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 ComposerPeer Gynt Suite No.2, Op.55 WorkRecorded 1961 |
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| 5 | 1.The Abduction: Ingrid's Lament | 4:18 | $0.99 | |||
| 6 | 4.Solveig's Song | 5:35 | $0.99 | |||
Gustav Holst ComposerThe Planets, suite for orchestra and female chorus, Op.32, H.125 WorkRecorded 1961
Herbert von Karajan Conductor,
Damen des Wiener Staatsopernchors Chorus/Choir,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
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| 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 ComposerDie Fledermaus (The Bat; operetta), RV503...Act 1 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 1 | 1.Ouvertüre | 8:03 | $1.49 | |||
Johann Strauss II ComposerDie Fledermaus (The Bat; operetta), RV503...Act 2 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 2 | 15d.Ballett: Allegretto moderato. Schottisch. Russisch | 7:03 | $1.49 | |||
Johann Strauss II ComposerAnnen Polka, Op.117 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 3 | Annen Polka, Op.117 | 4:10 | $0.99 | |||
Josef Strauss ComposerDelirien Waltz, for orchestra, Op.212 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 4 | Delirien Waltz, for orchestra, Op.212 | 8:21 | $1.49 | |||
Johann Strauss II ComposerDer Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron; operetta), RV511...Act 1 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 5 | 1.Overture | 8:00 | $1.49 | |||
Johann Strauss II ComposerAuf der Jagd (Off to the Hunt), polka schnell, Op.373 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 6 | Auf der Jagd (Off to the Hunt), polka schnell, Op.373 | 2:13 | $0.99 | |||
Johann Strauss II ComposerGeschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 7 | Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325 | 11:42 | $1.99 | |||
Richard Strauss ComposerTill Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op.28, Trv171 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 8 | Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op.28, Trv171 | 14:57 | $2.49 | |||
Richard Strauss ComposerSalome, Op.54, TrV215 (music drama)...Scene 4 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 9 | 5.Tanz der sieben Schleier (Dance of the Seven Veils) | 9:26 | $1.49 | |||
| CD 9 of 9 | ||||||
Richard Strauss ComposerDon Juan, Op.20, TrV156 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 1 | Don Juan, Op.20, TrV156 | 17:05 | $2.99 | |||
Richard Strauss ComposerTod und Verklärung, Op.24, TrV158 WorkRecorded 1960 |
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| 2 | Tod und Verklärung, Op.24, TrV158 | 23:54 | $3.99 | |||
Richard Strauss ComposerAlso sprach Zarathustra, Op.30, TrV176 WorkRecorded 1959 |
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| 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 | |||









