Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 40 & 41 "Jupiter"; Oboe Concerto

Mozartian Karajan: A Great Recording

Rudy Avila | Lennox, Ca United States | 09/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While Karajan is best known for conducting the heavier repertoire in the realm of classical music: Beethoven, Bruckner, Mahler, Wagner - he is nevertheless a fine interpretor of the music of Mozart. Karajan was born in the same Salzburg street that Mozart was born (Mozart's home is a museum now)and has long championed his music, feeling as close to Mozart as any conductor of his day. You cannot go anywhere in Austria without hearing Mozart and Karajan was actively involved in the running of the Salzburg Festival which performs numerous works by Mozart.



This recording, remastered and issued by EMI, finds a rather young Karajan conducting the last symphonies Mozart ever wrote, largely considered to be his greatest. It lacks the nearly superficial quality of the other symphonies, which almost tend to sound about the same. The Jupiter Symphony stands out from all the others and is larger in scale. Mozart employed as large an orchestra as was possible in his time. It is still classical in terms of harmonic unison and in its structural form- theme, recapitulation and coda. The music is beautiful as a result, while also sounding grand and serious, like an early Beethoven symphony. The CD concludes with the Oboe Concerto and Karajan allows the music speak for itself, as he always does. The music is seductive, playful, alluring and romantic. The sound of the oboe is positively soulful and soothing, and this is the best version of that particular Oboe Concerto ever on record. Karajan and his Berlin forces know this music by heart, and allow us to hear every beautiful line in the score. Without a doubt, this is a must have for fans of Mozart and Karajan, if you wish to add to your Karajan collection that is."

Karajan bucked the tide of history but produced something be

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 07/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Karajan was 62 when he made these Mozart recordings for EMI in 1970 (contrary to the reviewer below who thinks he was young). All six of the last symphonies were recorded in September of that year, and Karajan adhered to the prevailing style of using a full orchestra and romantic phrasing. Traditional Mozart style wouldn't remain that way forever, and by now we are used to period-style readings from reduced orchestra that are faster and leaner. Yet Karajan wasn't stodgy. He aimed to beautify Mozart without prettifying him, and he applied charm and a refined touch while maintaining a strng structure.



Those qualities go a long way. You may find that his Mozart is too controlled--Bernstein, also a traditionalist in Mozart, sounds freer and more passionate. Start with this excellently remstered, gorgeously played Sym. #40 and #41. Tempos are moderate throughout, and Karajan, like almost everyone in his generation, takes the Minuets too slowly, with heavy accents. But he's far form the worst in that regard. If you like Bohm, Walter, and Klemperer in Mozart, Karajan stands worthily beside them, and his berlin Phil. outshines everyone for orchestral perfection.



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