Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Herbert von Karajan :: Karajan Conducts Vivaldi & Bach

Karajan's Vivaldi and Bach among his best

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 05/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Deutsche Grammophon's reissue of these vintage 1960's and 1970's recordings of Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic tackling Vivaldi and J. S. Bach is certainly a cause for celebration. Their interpretation of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" replete with warmth and ample precision, holds up well against some of the most recent recordings I have heard of this work, most notably Anne-Sophie Mutter's recent Deutsche Grammophon recording. The performances from the Berlin Philharmonic's concertmasters, most notably Michel Schwalbe and Thomas Brandis, offer some of the most lively, mesmerizing performances I have heard in the Vivaldi concerti. Karajan has been criticized - and I think rather unjustly - for being too much of a Romantic in his interpretations of Baroque scores, most notably Vivaldi. Instead, this splendid two CD set shows that his interpretations actually foreshadow the current revival in period instrument performance led most notably by Ton Koopman and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Fans of Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic will not be disappointed with these recordings."