Search - Hans Hotter, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven :: Maestro Nobile Herbert Von Karajan 1

Deal of the century...

Kenneth J. Luurs | Oak Park, IL USA | 07/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's get real, this is a great deal for a lot of music. At the same time I want to put the disclaimer that these are "classic" -- read "old" performances -- most from the 1940's so these are not stereo, not state of the art sound. At the same time, what a treasure of great performances. For me, the Brahms German Requiem is worth the price of admission == 1947, Schwarzkopf and Hotter. There's inspiring Beethoven 5 and Schubert 9 with the Vienna Phil, a decent Dvorak New World with the Berlin. You might pay the same price for 2 CD's and here you get 10...of very good to peerless performances. There's a whole disc of opera overtures, another of Strauss waltzes. This is the young Karajan, a lion with something to say. I wasn't sure the first time I saw this set -- can't be good at that price -- WRONG. Great Performances and decent sound -- for the time."

Big Box of Great Music, but is it the best buy in Karajan se

Thomas Gleim | Gaithersburg, MD United States | 12/04/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All the performances in the set are least very fine, many are superb, and at least some are certifiably great. Here is a complete list of the works, with orchestras and recording dates:



Disc 1: Mozart: symphonies 29 (VPO, 1946), 39 (VPO, 1949 and 41 (RAI Symphony Turin, 1942).

Disc 2: Mozart: Clarinet Concerto (Wlach, cl., 1949); Figaro Overture (1946); Adagio & Fugue in c, KV 546 (1947), Masonic Funeral Music (1947) (all with the VPO); Magic Flute Overture (Staatskapelle Berlin, 1938).

Disc 3: Beethoven: Symphonies 5 (VPO, 1948) and 7 (Staatskapelle Berlin, 1941).

Disc 4: Schubert: Symphony 9 (VPO, 1946); Weber: Freischutz Overture (Concertgebouw, 1943); Smetana: Moldau (BPO, 1940).

Disc 5: Dvorak: Symphony 9 (BPO, 1940); Schumann: Piano Concerto (Lipatti, pno, Philharmonia, 1948).

Disc 6: Brahms: German Requiem (Schwarzkopf, Hotter, VPO, 1947).

Disc 7: J. Strauss Jr: Waltzes (Blue Danube, 1946 , Emperor, 1946, Artist's Life, 1946, Vienna Woods, 1948, Vienna Blood, 1949, Wine Women and Song, 1949) and Zigeunerbaron Overture, 1946 (all with the VPO), and the Fledermaus Overture (BPO, 1942).

Disc 8: Cherubini: Anacreon Overture (Staatskapelle Berlin, 1938); Rossini: Semiramide Overture (Radio Symphony Turin, 1942); Verdi: Traviata Acts 1 & 3 Preludes (Turin, 1942), Forza Overture (Staatskapelle Berlin, 1939) and excerpt ("Ella giammai m'amo") from Don Carlo (B. Christoff, VPO, 1949); Mascagni: Cavalleria Overture (VPO, 1949); Puccini: Manon, Act III Intermezzo (VPO, 1947) and Gianni Schicchi excerpt ("O mio babbino caro") (Schwartkopf, VPO, 1948).

Disc 9: Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 (VPO, 1948/49) and Romeo & Juliet Overture (VPO, 1946).

Disc 10: R. Strauss: Don Juan (Concertgebouw, 1943) and Metamorphoses (VPO, 1947); Bartok: Music for SP&C (Philharmonia, 1949).



As you can see, this is a lot of great music, and this set will undoubtedly provide me with pleasure for years to come. I think the central question for most prospective purchasers is whether to invest money in this or to use the same money to get more modern performances with better sound. Some may also wonder how these readings stack up against later Karajan recordings.



First, the sound. These recordings certainly show their age. Naturally, some sound better than others. I was a bit disappointed in the remastering. While it was fine on many of the recordings, several retained a rather harsh edge. (If you know the Schumann recording from the "Great Recordings of the Century" series, you know what to expect.) If, like me, you aren't bothered by "historical" sound, there isn't anything here to be afraid of - the sonic imperfections pale in comparison to the musical excellence. If you require more realistic, modern sound, this set probably isn't for you.



I'm NOT a member of the "Earlier Karajan is better" school of thought. I believe that he deepened and matured as he grew older, and that many of his late recordings are among his - or anyone else's - finest recordings. On the other hand, some of these readings are just plain great recordings. The Schubert C Major, the Brahms German Requiem, the Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet and the J. Strauss Jr. Waltzes on here are really as good as you'll ever find. On the other hand, good as they are, the Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky symphonies here really aren't competitive with Karajan's later efforts, so they're more for Karajan collectors than general listeners.



The (rather flimsy) cardboard box houses five ("2-fer" type) jewel cases. It's a very tight fit, making it difficult to take the cases in and out of the box. The notes, in German and English, mainly discuss the composers.



I'm happy with this set and will keep and enjoy it. But, had I heard it first, I think my choice would have been to spend the same money on some of Karajan's later recordings.

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