Search - Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Mendelssohn: The Symphonies

Remarkable Mendelssohn

J. Rich | 03/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herbert von Karajan was an outstanding conductor of the early to mid period Romantic repertoire, although the notable exceptions are his readings of Richard Strauss and Bruckner, which I consider some of his better performances. It is, however, his Beethoven and Mendelssohn that I find most satisfying.



There are many things I find great with his Mendelssohn. First of all, he doesn't treat him like another Classical Era wannabe like Claudio Abbado does, who I consider one of the worst conductors I've heard, and secondly, Karajan's readings project majesty and the pure essence of beauty. Mendelssohn was not a particularly "dark" composer. His works, in particular, his symphonies, are light on their feet, but they have this regal, romantic, brightness to them that is really hard to put into words. His music is instantly accessible and that is perhaps why he is so well known.



In this 3-CD set released on Deutsche Grammophon, we get all classic performances with Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, which are obviously one of the best orchestras in the world. I find all of these interpretations satisfactory, but I especially enjoyed Symphonies No. 2, 3, & 4 to be outstanding.



This set is obviously a symphony set, but I wished they included Karajan's account of "The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave)," but that's a small gripe for this collection.



If you're new to Mendelssohn or a collector of his works, then this is a fine addition to your collection. Highly recommended."