Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
Live in Berlin 1953-1969
rec. live, various dates, 1953-1969, various venues, Germany
Mono/Stereo
Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR240291 SACD [24 discs: 1466]

This highly-anticipated release from the Berliner Philharmoniker’s in-house label is exciting for many reasons: First, most of these 24 discs consist of new, previously unpublished material, among them select repertoire that Karajan had never recorded elsewhere, such as Ligeti’s Atmosphères and Liebermann’s Capriccio for Soprano, Violin and Orchestra. Secondly, these performances are without exception radio broadcasts, allowing the audience a glimpse of Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker at its most spontaneous and organic. Until the present, we have never seen a live, uncut release by this extraordinary partnership that covers such diverse repertoire and wide timespan. The orchestra’s own label was able to obtain the recorded live broadcasts from the former RIAS and SFB radio stations to digitize them, in high resolution no less, and publish them for the first time since these concerts were first played. Most of the recordings here were captured in mono sound, with only a few items from 1967-1969 available in stereo; the sonics are uniformly clean, clear, and allow us to obtain a vivid impression of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s legendary capabilities under its perhaps even more legendary former director for life. The contents of the release include a large box and 128-page hardcover book designed by sculptor/painter Thomas Scheibitz, extensive essays by Karajan biographer Peter Uehling (Karajan’s Radio Recordings: Designs for a Time of Reconstruction), music publicist James Jolly (Karajan in Concert) and more. Since my colleagues John Quinn and Philip Harrison have already done a joint review of this release, the present article distinguishes itself by constituting the thoughts and impressions of a single listener going through the box set’s contents in chronological order, and for the sake of readability and convenience, the following reviews of each of the 24 discs will be organized in that manner.

CD 1 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 1 ꞏ 8 September 1953 ꞏ Titania-Palast, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”

This is a supremely powerful reading of the “Eroica” symphony. Compared to Karajan’s studio account with the Philharmonia on EMI, recorded in 1952 (review here), this radio broadcast has significantly more presence, with the sonic image presented more upfront. The Berliners also have a richer string and brighter brass section by far, in comparison to the Londoners. Timings are very similar between the two renditions, with only the Marcia funebre: Adagio assai second movement having an almost one-minute deviation, with the Berlin Philharmoniker being the broader performance. The wide-open, brilliant trumpet tone that Karajan cultivated with his orchestra (and on later recordings with the Wiener Philharmoniker as well) is already on full display here, notably at the recapitulation of the Allegro con brio (CD 1, track 1, 9:09). The fast movements are especially successful in this performance, with the immense momentum built via perfectly controlled and sustained tempi, one of Karajan’s hallmarks. Although the mics are very much overloaded by the timpani at the conclusion of the symphony (CD 1, track 4, 12:21-12:28), what a glorious testament to the performance’s intensity this is.

CD 2 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 2 ꞏ 22 November 1954 ꞏ  Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Those who follow Karajan/Philharmonia’s work will know that the pair had recorded this immensely popular Vaughan Williams piece in the 1950s with EMI as well, including at least once in 1954 (review here). However, the present recording is the only commercially available version of the piece that the maestro recorded with his Berliner Philhamoniker. Timing-wise, at 13:15, it’s more than a minute and a half quicker than his EMI rendition, imbuing a slight feeling of wariness with the work’s usually serene atmosphere. As in the “Eroica” symphony, the Berlin strings here sound fuller and cleaner compared to their Philharmonia counterparts, and while the treble could come off a tad on the harsh side at the loudest dynamics, the overall sonics are truly impressive given the age of the broadcast.

CD 2 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 3 ꞏ 22 February 1955 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde, Prelude and Liebestod

Karajan had a strong affinity for Wagner’s music dramas, including Tristan und Isolde, of which the Prelude to Act I and Liebestod (Act III) he recorded numerous times throughout his career, including at least two more versions with the Berliner Philharmoniker, in 1974 on EMI (review here), and in 1984 on DG. Compared to those later stereo (and studio) efforts, the present broadcast has less sonic depth, clarity and dynamic range, which is to be expected given its vintage. Musically, though, this is a truly passionate performance, and a very polished one as well. The woodwinds, in particular, shape the famous “Tristan motif” very expressively, with the Clarinet I taking the spotlight at the beginning of the Liebestod (CD 2, track 1, 11:49-12:19). The strings are delectably lush throughout, and the first outburst before the long chromatic sequence (CD 2, track 1, 15:29) has both power and clarity in spades, while the later, even grander climax (CD 2, track 1, 16:30) is shattering in force but doesn’t sound harsh in the slightest – the orchestral balances are well-preserved with all instrumental groups reinforcing the stirring theme in the violins. This is a sensationally played and engineered performance.

CD 2 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 4 ꞏ 21 January 1956 ꞏ Paulus-Gemeinde Zehlendorf, Berlin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D minor,  K. 466, Wilhelm Kempff, piano, Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter” 

In 1956, Karajan had also recorded the K. 466 concerto another time, though with the Philharmonia and Clara Haskil at Salzburg’s Mozart Week (review here). Compared to that Mozarteum performance, the present broadcast has fuller sonics, with the piano featuring a sparkle that lets it sing above the orchestra’s sensitively played accompaniment. It’s worth noting that both Haskil and Kempff opted to perform presumably their own cadenzas in the first movement, a departure from the more common Beethoven version that had been preferred by pianists from Schnabel to Fischer and Richter. The Romanze has the Berliner Philharmoniker at their gentle best, with light textures throughout that illuminate the solo piano beautifully, while the Allegro assai has Kempff and the orchestra feeding off each other in both the movement’s tempestuous first and jolly second themes. The rich sonority that Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker favours here is a great match for Kempff’s equally burnished tone, and this consistency in tonal conception makes this performance a standout.

The “Jupiter” symphony was also recorded numerous times through Karajan’s career, notably with the Berliner Philharmoniker in 1978. The main difference between that later version and this one is that the 1978 take features an exposition repeat in the Allegro vivace, which is omitted here, not an uncommon decision for radio performances. The 1956 reading is also more spirited in both tempo and overall pacing in the fast movements, with remarkable gusto from the ensemble in all of its sections. The much more spacious sonic presentation of the 1978 account lends itself a sense of grandiosity that’s absent in this radio broadcast, though many might find the leaner sound of the older take more suited for Mozart’s music, this author included. The incredible fugal writing (five-part invertible counterpoint for the theory aficionados) in the coda of the Molto allegro movement is executed with impressive clarity of phrasing and texture here (CD 2, track 8, 4:59-5:42), and at a breathtaking speed, too. The virtuosity, and more importantly, joie de vivre of the Berliner Philharmoniker under Karajan is on full display, giving us a most gratifying end to a wonderful Mozart disc.

CD 3 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 5 ꞏ 10 December 1956 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Richard Strauss: Es gibt ein Reich (There is a realm) from Ariadne auf Naxos, op. 60, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

This next broadcast begins with an aria selection from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, Es gibt ein Reich (There is a realm). This is Ariadne’s monologue when she’s lamenting having been abandoned by her faithless lover on a desert island, while waiting alone for the messenger of death. As expected, the great Schwarzkopf sings beautifully here, with her luscious voice effortlessly soaring above Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker’s gentle accompaniment. It’s worth pointing out that Karajan and Schwarzkopf had actually recorded the opera with the Philharmonia Orchestra just two years ago for EMI – the first studio version of the work ever put on tape, in fact.

The Tchaikovsky symphony here represents another striking performance, one captured in better sound than other commercially available recordings of the piece by the same conductor in the 1950s, including the 1953 live performance in Turin with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI and the 1954 studio recording with the Philharmonia for EMI, as those two have a rather distant and at times even faint sonic image. The white-hot intensity of Karajan’s interpretation and his orchestra’s execution are exhibited in full splendour here, though the strings do sound a bit astringent as they approach louder dynamics, as towards the end of the second theme of the Andante – Allegro con anima (CD 3, track 2, 6:43-6:50), no doubt due to the limitations of the recording capabilities available at the time. Sonic limitations notwithstanding, one could definitely obtain a salient impression of Karajan’s penchant for richness of sonority here: the strings are full, the brass big-toned, the woodwinds glowing. The Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza is gorgeously paced, with a liquid-smooth horn solo from the unfortunately uncredited principal chair. Things continue to impress in the Valse. Allegro moderato, with some crisp playing from the woodwinds and strings in the Trio section (CD 3, track 5, 1:38-3:16). The concert of course ends with the symphony’s stirring Finale. The introduction’s motto theme is supposed to echo its initial appearance at the very beginning of the symphony, down to the time signature, tempo marking and rhythmic values used by Tchaikovsky, and Karajan takes care here to ensure that the sustained tempo and smooth phrasing matches what we first heard. The entire ensemble is virtuosic throughout the movement proper, marked Allegro vivace (alla breve).The coda is as thrilling as it should be and the sonority culminating at the gigantic dominant chord (CD 3, track 6, 9:46-9:51) is truly worthy of the conductor’s acclaim for tonal polish. The final peroration based on the motto theme, led by the trumpets (CD 3, track 6, 10:40-11:16) is triumphantly gratifying – Karajan always likes to ensure that the fff trumpets are truly soaring above and beyond the rest of the orchestra here, whether in his 1975 recording with the Berliner Philharmoniker or the 1984 account with the Wiener Philharmoniker, both of which are on DG. It’s a personal requirement of mine that a great interpretation of this symphony must end with trumpets that sound like these, as it’s such a powerful moment that finally allows us to bask in glory after an emotional journey of about 50 minutes.

CD 4 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 6 ꞏ 19 February 1957 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 100

The Austrian conductor is almost universally acclaimed for his 1969 DG recording of this work (review here and here), considered by many a critic to be among the finest accounts ever of Prokofiev’s wartime masterpiece. While the present performance cannot match that iconic version made twelve years later in sonic presentation, it grants us a rare glimpse into the blazing intensity at which Karajan and his band performed this piece in a live setting. The opening Andante, which takes 13-14 minutes in many recent recordings, is dispatched in just 11:49 here, with Karajan’s signature momentum in the fast sections feeling as relentless as ever, notably in the movement’s thrilling development section (CD 4, track 1, 5:25-6:54). The tam-tam strokes in the coda, although not jump-from-your-seat cataclysmic as they are in the famed DG rendition, are tremendously powerful and don’t take the spotlight away from the rip-roaring brass (CD 4, track 1, 10:19-10:51). Next, the Allegro marcato is almost identical in timing to the DG effort, being just two seconds shorter here. The marcato and staccatissimo markings are observed very closely here indeed, with incisive attacks across the ensemble lending remarkable transparency to such a mighty orchestral sonority. This is no mean feat at all, and this goes to show just how judicious the maestro was about articulation in general, contrary to the common misconception that he was biased towards legato phrasing. Listen to the way the orchestra speeds up and builds from the central section back to the main toccata-like section (CD 4, track 2, 5:39-6:21). What a well-paced and graduated poco a poco accelerando (gradually faster, little by little)! In published interviews with Karajan, he often boasted about his sensitivity to tempo and rhythm, particularly to their steadiness and fluctuations. We’re very fortunate to have numerous testaments of this trait of his on record, then. The ensuing Adagio features plenty of lyrical playing consistent with the overall performance, but the beginning of the movement’s colossal climax (CD 4, track 3, 7:28) sets up a momentum that’s held absolutely steady throughout the episode, a remarkable departure from many performances wherein conductors broaden the pace to create higher tension, when an unyielding velocity actually results in greater sonic impact, as it does to great effect here. Topping off the concert is a charming Allegro giocoso–the odd, “wrong note” A-flat interjections from the Trumpet III (CD 4, track 4, 3:53 and 3:57), could have more presence to better foreshadow the coda, though. The contrasting chorale section (CD 4, track 4, 4:29-4:55) puts the burnished Berliner strings on display, even at a pp dynamic. The coda (CD 4, track 4, 7:43 onwards) is exhilarating: The woodwinds shriek, the harps sweep, the percussion bang and clang, and the brass blast away. All of this is under total control, though, with Karajan and the orchestra maintaining a rock-solid impetus throughout–at the risk of repeating myself, these performers’ ability and more importantly, will to firmly adhere to a set tempo is truly awe-inspiring. Once again, where the temptation to speed up is strong, Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker almost always have their sights on loftier ideals. They’re deeply faithful that the virtuosity of their playing and the power of the composer’s score will create a stronger impact than superficial histrionics. Bravissimo, team! 

CD 5 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 7 ꞏ 25 April 1957 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Elisabeth Grümmer, soprano, Marga Höffgen, mezzo-soprano, Ernst Haefliger, tenor, Gottlob Frick, bass, Chor der Sankt Hedwigs-Kathedrale, Karl Forster, chorus master

Now, we’ve arrived at the first of three (!) Beethoven Ninths found in this box set. Since the other two performances are from 1963 and 1968, comparisons here will be made with the other account that Karajan recorded in the 1950’s instead, namely the one with the Philharmonia for EMI, including the mono (review here) as well as experimental stereo versions of that performance. Sonically, this later radio broadcast has as much presence as the experimental stereo version of the 1955 rendition, albeit with an obviously narrower image considering it was captured only in one channel after all. However, it has a significantly clearer and deeper focus than the mono version of the 1955 effort, which sounds diffuse and thin by comparison. The opening Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso (Quick but not too much and a little solemn)is granitic in strength, with a fullness in the Berliner’s sonority markedly beyond what the British band offered him two years earlier. This is immediately apparent when the orchestra plays in tutti at the first statement of the primary theme (CD 5, track 1, 0:29-1:03). The shattering climax of the movement, where the development culminates in an enormous restatement of the main theme and thereby beginning the recapitulation (CD 5, track 1, 8:10), is aptly overwhelming, though clarity has been carefully preserved here, with the four-note motif in the trumpets and horns crisp and clear (CD 5, track 1, 8:27-8:28). The movement is capped off with a passionate coda, though I’d prefer the closing bars to be at a constant tempo here, rather than being pulled back for an even more powerful finishing blow. This is one of the few places where Karajan prioritized sonic weight over momentum, but I’m not certain that the Berliners needed any help in that regard here, or anywhere else for that matter. The Molto vivace (very lively) is a tricky scherzo to pull off, because it’s very brisk in both the scherzo (in ¾ time)  and trio (in 2/2) sections–in fact, the middle part is in Presto, and since Beethoven gave both sections of the movement a metronome marking of 116 (to a dotted quarter note and to a whole note, respectively), the contrasting trio is actually more rapid than the main theme, though conductors have always shown a diverse and liberal range of implementations when it comes to the tempo relationships of this movement. Here, Karajan renders the stringendo il tempo (quicken the tempo) from the scherzo into the trio very well (CD 5, track 2, 4:32-4:36), but actually sets the Presto slower than its metronome marking demands as soon as the time signature changes (CD 5, track 2, 4:38). Though not adhering strictly to the letter of the score, I find that this approach effective since it allows the trio to provide the listener some reprieve from the hectic scherzo sections that sandwich it. The Adagio molto e cantabile (very slowly and singing) is breathtaking. The double variations form means that the primary and the secondary themes take turns appearing and reappearing, intensifying in expression each time. Karajan manages the pacing of the movement splendidly well, even as the note values in the melody become shorter, he never allows the music to become restless or agitated–after all, this movement is a long-breathed, songlike counterweight to the symphony’s other three, all of which are plenty hectic already. The finale receives a top-notch reading, as to be expected from the maestro who enjoyed a virtually peerless reputation for his treatment of this movement, one of the most celebrated in the entire orchestral repertoire. Spirited playing and singing abound, and the energy of a live concert is palpable especially in the flexibility of the vocalists’ performances. I appreciate how the grand “Ode to Joy” chorus, or Variation 5 in formal terms (CD 5, track 5, 6:40-7:22), is kept a swift clip throughout so that structurally it feels more like a part of a greater whole rather than an arbitrary climax–there is no request by the composer for this section to be any slower or faster than its lead-up anyway. The final “Freude, schöner Götterfunken!” (“Joy, bright spark of divinity!”) here is immensely powerful, with Karajan, like most conductors, dialling back the tempo generously so that the ensuing Prestissimo (as quick as possible) would be even more impactful, and the symphony concludes with all the adrenaline rush that it should give us indeed.

CD 6 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 8 ꞏ 25 May 1957 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, op. 37, Glenn Gould, piano
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82

This next concert is a legendary one – the only recording that Karajan ever made with the iconoclastic Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. While observers might feel that this was an unlikely partnership, the two men actually admired each other deeply, and Karajan once even remarked that “listening to him [Gould], I had a feeling of listening to myself. His way of music-making was so similar to mine.” At first glance, the version included in the present box set might not seem like the only recording of this concert, as Sony Classical had also issued its own in 2008, with the same coupling of Beethoven and Sibelius, a closer inspection of the recording dates reveals that the present recording is in fact from the performance (25 May) a night before the same program was recorded for Sony’s release (26 May). Compared to that version, this Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings release unfortunately sounds more muffled and claustrophobic, with less sense of space. Gould’s piano tone is reproduced at a similar level of fidelity to Kempff’s in the aforementioned Mozart recording from Concert No. 4 , which is to say, pretty remarkable indeed. For a pianist who had a famous, sometimes infamous reputation for his dry, staccato touch, this performance is very well-judged in articulation overall. Rapid runs and arpeggios near the end of the Rondo. Allegro – Presto are executed with the Canadian virtuoso’s trademark clarity, but also plenty of resonance as a result of judicious sustain pedalling. (CD 6, track 3, 6:47-6:54, 8:20-8:40).

The Sibelius Fifth of this concert is quicker-paced compared to Karajan’s 1960 rendition with the Philharmonia, with the beginning movement over a minute shorter here. Although this mono Berliner Philharmoniker account was set down only three years before the EMI one, its shortcomings in the sonic department are very apparent compared to its stereo Philharmonia counterpart. Notably, the brass is rather congested and harsh towards the end of the first movement, where the opening theme takes on its most exalted form, with the full orchestra blazing at ff (CD 6, track 4, 11:45-12:26). It’s certainly not the fault of the performers – if anything, this is a testament of just how overwhelming Karajan and his Berliner’s sonority could be, that even some of the best mono recording capabilities at the time couldn’t come close to doing it justice. The second movement receives a swift reading at just 7:45. This is extraordinary since many modern readings take around 9:30 or more, such as those by Esa-Pekka Salonen/San Francisco Symphony, Mark Elder/Hallé Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin/Orchestre Métropolitain. The variation of the main theme where the violins enter with eighth notes for the first time (CD 6, track 5, 1:36) is taken at a rather breathless pace, and as the movement hastily builds towards its central climax, I couldn’t help but feel that a more tranquillo, or peaceful, (an actual expressive marking of one of this movement’s sections) take would’ve helped this quasi-interlude serve its role better, flanked by two vigorous movements as it is. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, the same gripe regarding the recorded sound that I had with the first movement returns with a vengeance in the last movement. Again, this is in no way a condemnation of the performance itself–it’s just such a pity that technical limitations in audio engineering at the time marred so many legendary performances by musicians as great as Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker. The ensemble’s world-renowned string tone is reduced to wiry, grating scratches here, while the esteemed brass are turned into screeching industrial equipment. I highly recommend listeners to turn their volume knobs down a couple of notches from the point the finale initiates its final buildup (CD 6, track 5, 7:00 onwards), particularly if they’re listening via headphones. That is how offending the captured sound here is. Artistically speaking, this performance, grandiose as it is, is also not preferable over the Philharmonia one on EMI, with the nail in the coffin being a somewhat rushed conclusion, where Sibelius curiously spaces out the six final chords in a highly deliberate way. The later stereo recording takes full advantage of its more spacious soundstage and allows the sonority of each chord to dissipate before another one is attacked, while this mono one feels scrambled and haphazard in its pacing, robbing the epic ending of its finality. Despite being a rare historical document, this concert broadcast is not to be recommended, especially considering the excellent accounts of this work that Karajan made later, beginning with the Philharmonia/EMI production.

CD 7 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 9 ꞏ 20 September 1959 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
George Frederic Handel: Concerto Grosso in D major, Op. 6 No. 5, HWV 323
Rolf Liebermann: Capriccio for Soprano, Violin and Orchestra, Irmgard Seefried, soprano, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, violin
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120

Concert No. 9 is another special one, as it combines two composers Karajan recorded numerous times throughout his career with one who is largely unknown, let alone in the Austrian maestro’s discography. Rolf Liebermann is a Swiss composer noted for his eclectic mix of compositional techniques, combining elements from Baroque, Classical, and even twelve-tone styles. Liebermann is not to be confused with Lowell Liebermann, American composer of the well-loved piano suite Gargoyles. The Handel here is given a fierce reading, with string tone so sumptuous, especially in the cellos and basses, one wonders if they’re listening to a Brahms symphony instead, case in point being the ending chord of the Presto (CD 7, track 3, 2:20-2:23). Karajan recorded the same Concerto Grosso, along with No. 1-4, 6-12 with the Berliner Philharmoniker on EMI in the late 1960’s, which offers a much richer sound than what we have here, and in stereo, of course. 

The Liebermann is an interesting work, to say the least; remarkably, the piece was just published in 1958 by Universal Edition, with its premiere given by Markevitch and the Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux on 1 March, 1959, barely half a year before Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker playing it in this concert. It’s certainly fascinating to hear the famed conductor and ensemble performing a piece so contemporary to them, and it being sandwiched by two traditional warhorses of the standard repertoire at that. Seefried and Schneiderhan both give virtuosic performances here, with seemingly endless runs in both the soprano and solo violin parts.

After the abstract Capriccio, hearing the unison As at the beginning of Schumann’s Fourth is very refreshing. Like many other pieces found in this box set, Karajan also recorded this work on EMI around the same time as these radio broadcasts. This time, his studio effort actually preceded the present concert, with it being set down in 1957 with the Berliner Philharmoniker instead of the Philharmonia, the usual group that he recorded with on EMI at the time. At that point, the maestro had already been appointed principal conductor of the top German orchestra. I’m glad to report that the broadcast recording here sounds clearer, fuller and more balanced than its older EMI sibling. The opening Ziemlich langsam – Lebhaft (rather slow – lively) is given a fiery treatment, with a rich but very transparent orchestral sonority that allows the exposition section (starting from Lebhaft) to proceed along with great momentum with impressively precise articulation (CD 7, track 8, 2:05-3:23), with staccatos, accents and sforzandos rendered with phenomenal clarity. A very brief slow movement, the Romanze: Ziemlich langsam recalls the theme of the first movement’s introduction in its own beginning, and Karajan and his ensemble is careful in conjuring up the matching atmosphere, beautifully blending the strings and woodwinds in this suspenseful section (CD 7, track 9, 0:47-1:35). Next is the Scherzo, with the same Lebhaft marking that all three quick movements of this symphony receive. Notably, Karajan takes the Trio section at a much more leisurely speed than its surrounding scherzo sections, even though Schumann never indicated a tempo change. Even if it was advisable to relax the tempo to create a stronger contrast, I’d rather the difference not be as jarring as it is here. The last movement, Langsam – Lebhaft also recalls themes from the first movement, making this symphony a very integrated work, especially for its time. The Berliners play with gusto as usual, but I want to point out a neat example of their virtuosity and integrity, for which they are rightly revered. The dotted rhythms in the first part of the development section are executed with spot-on precision, a remarkable feat given that the composer gave this motif a canonic treatment across the strings and woodwinds, and for a minute straight this rhythm is relentlessly repeated (CD 7, track 11, 2:23-3:25). Despite changes in dynamics and stresses, the orchestra never lets these rhythms slacken. Sensational! The coda is as exhilarating as one would expect, with tremendous tone from the brass and strings, in particular–listen to the final chords and tell me if that sonority isn’t worthy of a Bruckner symphony (CD 7, track 11, 6:31-6:45). This repertoire finds Karajan and his band at their best, indeed, whether you’re a fan of their sound or not. I personally find them glorious here, and will gladly return to this disc if only for the Schumann performance.

CD 8 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 10 ꞏ 10 October 1961 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Claude Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Orchestral Suite No. 2, Symphonie chorégraphique on a scenario by Mikhail Fokin

This next concert brings us to the 1960’s. Although the Brahms here is still in mono and cannot hold a candle sonically to the 1963 stereo version that Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker recorded for DG just two years later, it’s still remarkable for its age. The opening Allegro non troppo (not but too fast) displays the gorgeous strings phrasing for which these performers were highly lauded, though it’s a pity that that sonic limitations made the violins sound rather brittle as the passionate primary theme unfolds (CD 8, track 1, 0:46-1:31). As a telling sign of the maestro’s structural grasp, I appreciate how Karajan saves the highest volumes for the fervent coda–the true climax of the movement, instead of going all out when the fortissimi first begin appearing in the development section (CD 8, track 1, 3:38 and 4:35). The Andante moderato (walking speed, moderately) acts as a welcome counterbalance to the rest of the symphony, which consists of three quick movements. The playing is generally at the high level that one would expect from these performers, though a small but obvious slip in the Horn in E’s statement of the main theme (CD 8, track 2, 1:52-1:53) gently reminds us that the Berliner Philharmoniker is made up of mortals after all, and that we’re listening to an unpatched radio broadcast. What a lavish string tone towards the end of the middle section, though (CD 8, track 2, 7:48-9:22)! The signature Karajan/Berlin sound is largely built upon a massive bed of well-blended strings with intense vibrato in the violins and a deep foundation in the basses, and this is a perfect moment to savour it, audio limitations notwithstanding. Our Allegro giocoso (fast and playful) that follows shows us another classic Karajan moment–something so agile and quick-footed shouldn’t be able to have this much weight and impact, but such is Karajan and his orchestra’s refinement that it allows them to propel their gargantuan wall of sound forward while maintaining effortless control. There is a spot where vocalizations are clearly heard amidst the action, mimicking the melody in the strings, though they don’t quite sound like the conductor’s voice to me (CD 8, track 3, 1:56-1:58). Very curious! The symphony concludes with a no-holds-barred presentation of the Allegro energico e passionato (fast, energetic and passionate). Talk about energy and passion – the Berliners are on fire here, starting right with the eight notes of the main theme (CD 8, track 4, 0:01-0:14), which are about to undergo 30 variations in this passacaglia form (varying and/or developing themes over a recurring bass pattern of fixed length). I think Karajan’s decision to not deviate too much from the basic tempo here is very effective. After all, here, like in many passacaglias, the composer only wrote one basic tempo for the entire movement, and even made it a point to indicate that quarter notes should maintain the same speed when the music shifts from 3/4 time to 3/2 at measure 97 (CD 8, track 4, 3:00-3:08). The later variations show Karajan and the Berliners at their most ferocious (CD 8, track 4, 7:09-7:22), and the coda (CD 8, track 4, 8:49 onwards) is positively devastating. My only gripe is that I could’ve done without the slowdown at the final bars, where the conductor allows the orchestra to take a huge physical as well as musical breath before blowing out the ultimate chord (CD 8, track 4, 9:39-9:45). I prefer a steady momentum throughout the coda, as its sense of relentlessness and inevitability would’ve made the ending all the more tragically powerful. Still, this is a virtually negligible price to pay for an otherwise colossal reading of Brahm’s masterpiece.

The Debussy and Ravel pieces in this concert have both been recorded by Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker in the 1960’s, in stereo and therefore much fuller sound. The playing here is plenty refined, though the colouristic orchestration of this repertoire really only comes alive on a wider soundstage, so I strongly prefer those studio accounts over the performances here. Interestingly, while the Daphnis et Chloé, Orchestral Suite No. 2 is nearly identical in timing across the two versions, the Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune here is almost a full minute longer than these performers’ 1964 take (9:32 compared to 8:39).

CD 9 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 11 ꞏ 1 March 1963 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, Maria Stader, soprano, Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano, Luigi Alva, tenor, Walter Berry, bass, RIAS Kammerchor, Günther Arndt, chorus master, Edith Picht-Axenfeldt, harpsichord, Helmut Schlövogt, oboe d’amore, Fritz Wesenigk, Herbert Rotzoll, Karl Pfeifer, piccolo trumpets

Karajan recorded Bach’s Magnificat in 1979 in the studio, then again live at the 1984 New Year’s Eve Concert with the Berliner Philharmoniker. This radio broadcast, compared to those later accounts, lacks presence and warmth largely due to its mono sound, but certainly not passion or drive. The opening Chorus: Magnificat anima mea has the RIAS Kammerchor bellowing in a spirited way that I find more exciting than the Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin in the 1979 recording. A note about the cast of this concert: At first, I found it curious that the solo alto in this performance isn’t credited like the other four of her colleagues. As I got further along and heard more movements, I think it dawned on me what they did here. To my ears, it sounds very much like the soprano in Et exsultavit anima mea doubled the solo alto part in Esurientes, which is to say that the legendary Christa Ludwig actually sang both the Soprano II as well as Alto roles in this performance. That is more than fine by me given how much I like her other work, but where does that leave us with movement 10, Terzetto: Suscepit Israel? As its title suggests, that piece is written for three voices, and we clearly do hear all three of them here, so what exactly was the arrangement? Did they just appoint a chorus member from the RIAS Kammerchor to take on the third part, and if so, why didn’t they credit her? Fortunately, this casting mystery wasn’t the only thing that raised my eyebrows about this performance, as the exalted singing and playing certainly did as well. The chorus’ powerful yet utterly transparent blend is truly impressive in the concluding Chorus: Gloria Patri, especially the first half (CD 9, track 12, 0:01-1:31), while the Berliner Philharmoniker’s seemingly bottomless string tone gets to enjoy the spotlight at the very end as well–listen to that lusciously rich reverb after Karajan cuts off the final chord (CD 9, track 12, 2:17-2:21)!

CD 10 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 12 ꞏ 15 October 1963 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Gundula Janowitz, soprano, Sieglinde Wagner, mezzo-soprano, Luigi Alva, tenor, Otto Wiener, baritone, Chor der Sankt Hedwigs-Kathedrale, RIAS Kammerchor, Günther Arndt, chorus master

Welcome to the second of the three Beethoven Ninths featured in this box set, and the first stereo recording of the box set. This performance is special among its peers here since it has the distinction of being a document of a historical event, namely the house-warming concert for the then highly-anticipated opening of the Berlin Philharmonie, one of the most famed concert halls built in the 20th century. The iconic Berlin landmark was designed by the architect Hans Scharoun, and Karajan himself was heavily involved in the project. The recorded sound here, thanks to being in two channels, has a soundstage that is noticeably deeper and wider than the previous Ninth in this release– I wonder if the then-brand new hall contributed to this as well. The difference is immediately apparent at the initial orchestral tutti of the Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso (CD 10, track 1, 0:28). There is also an extra sense of urgency in the same movement, with the last buildup in the coda, especially, accumulating tension and momentum without excessive slowing down for more sonic impact (CD 10, track 1, 13:58-14:58). The Molto vivace is also given the turbo treatment here, being dispatched in just 10:16 compared to 11:05 in the 1957 concert. The terraced dynamics of the scherzo are handled particularly well here, with sudden shifts between forte and pianissimo as well as piano and fortissimo clear as day, and without having to sacrifice momentum to render them, either. The slow movement, Adagio molto e cantabile, features the sumptuous string tone that is one of most salient recurring themes throughout the present collection (and indeed, most of Karajan’s recorded legacy) in higher fidelity than ever, perhaps once again thanks to the Philharmonie’s acoustics. The onset of the second theme (CD 10, track 3, 2:38) is a wonderful spot to relish this. The finale is unfortunately not off to a good start, with the rest of the orchestra entering about an eighth note later than the timpani, and the trumpets flubbing the first of the two high As in the Presto opening outburst. As the cellos and double basses respond with the recitative theme, the right channel somehow drops off for a second (CD 10, track 4, 0:14). I wonder what technical issue caused this, as this is a mono recording and is as such supposed to only have one audio channel? As the themes from the first three movements alternate with the aforementioned recitative in the low strings, I wish Karajan had observed the abrupt tempo shifts here more faithfully. Instead, he often transitions from one to another, like when the cellos and double basses slow down dramatically from Tempo I to smoothly merge into the Adagio cantabile (CD 10, track 4, 1:24-1:46), or when they blatantly ignore the Tempo I. Allegro. marking as they emerge from that slower episode (CD 10, track 4, 2:00). The “Ode to Joy” theme is sublimely shaped here as it undertakes its three variations, each of which exuding greater strength and jubilation than the last (CD 10, track 4, 3:09-6:29). The Presto then returns with the strikingly dissonant chord more potent than ever, now with the strings joining in, and the timpani ahead of the orchestra the way it’s actually supposed to be this time, as per the composer. The “Turkish march” variation on the “Ode to Joy” theme (CD 10, track 5, 3:28-5:03) is shaped with an razor-sharp focus on tracing a long line that doesn’t fall off until the most iconic section of the symphony, the climatic chorus, is over almost two minutes later (CD 10, track 5, 7:23). Karajan’s ability to choreograph, generate and sustain momentum within a work’s structure often reminds me of the Heinrich Neuhaus quote about his prodigious student, Sviatoslav Richter: “[Richter] treated each composition like a vast landscape which he surveyed from great height with the vision of an eagle, taking in the whole and all the details at the same time.” Here, the maestro and his ensemble accomplishes this largely via meticulous attention to dynamics, but more importantly through their uncanny ability to adhere to a well-judged tempo, regardless of the complexity of the passages. The choral forces here give a sprightly reading of their highly challenging, pun intended, parts. The sopranos, in particular, hit their upper ranges rather effortlessly, as does Janowitz with her high Bs at “dein sanfter flügel weilt” (thy gentle wings abide) (CD 10, track 5, 15:49-15:53). The final Prestissimo and push to the end has the Berliner Philharmoniker, the four soloists and the two choirs at their most virtuosic. A special commendation must be awarded to the timpanist here, who is incredible for being able to render his very nuanced part with such spectacular prominence, clarity and fullness of tone. To put it into perspective, his strokes and rolls bounce between eighth notes and quarter notes, just quarters, just eighths, quarters and eighths, as well as quarter note sextuplets–all of this rendered with the entire orchestra blasting away with the greatest force and at the fastest tempo marking possible (CD 10, track 5, 17:21-17:36). Bravo! Or shall I say, bravi instead, as all on stage that momentous evening deserve to be heartily congratulated.

CD 11 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 13 ꞏ 5 May 1964 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Richard Strauss: Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra in D Major, Lothar Koch, oboe
Four Last Songs, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano

Now, we have ourselves an all-Strauss concert. Spread over two discs, the first disc pairs the Bavarian composer’s ever-popular, late oboe concerto with his even more popular, even later masterpiece of four Lieder. The first piece is interesting in that it’s called a concerto at all, instead of something like concertino, given its relative brevity of only about 24 minutes, and the fact that it was scored for solo oboe and an orchestra of just 2 flutes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns and strings. Its almost chamber music-like textures are a far cry from the epic symphonic poems that Strauss created a reputation for himself with much earlier on in his career, which embodied Austro-Germanic late-romanticism at its most extravagant. Koch, our soloist here, is one of the two principal oboists of the Berliner Philharmoniker during the Karajan era, and I find his tone is very distinctive -it has a lush, cantabile (singing) full of generous vibrato. The rapidly descending 32nd notes that permeate the second theme of the Vivace – Allegro are silky smooth, and Koch doesn’t lose the interspersed cheeky staccatos either (CD 11, track 1, 2:21-4:14). The second movement, Andante allows the soloist to fully centre stage, as the gentle and sparse accompaniment spotlights their soaring lyricism and enables it to fully bloom, as it does here right from the oboe’s first entry (CD 11, track 2, 0:09). The finale is a Vivace – Allegro that lets the soloist strut their stuff. Quick runs, rapid figurations and articulations of various kinds give them quite a workout, and one mustn’t forget that this concerto has all three of its movements linked together without pause, so our oboist can’t really catch a break either. Strauss slotted in a brief but flashy cadenza between the Vivace and Allegro (CD 11, track 3, 3:37-4:11), and Koch executes it flawlessly, without any evidence of having broken a sweat. The ending is particularly exciting because it’s one of the few places in this piece that calls for ff for all involved, but unfortunately Koch’s colleagues fail to land the final chord on the end of his run and end up being ever-so-slightly late. A very small nitpick about a very fine performance, to be sure.

In the catalogue, Schwarzkopf has not one, but two legendary accounts of Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) to her name: The first one in 1953 with the Ackermann/Philharmonia, the second one in 1965 with Szell/Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. The present radio broadcast ranks between those two in terms of audio quality, with deeper and wider presence compared to the 1953 version but a narrower and thinner soundstage than the 1965. She sounds lovely in the opening “Frühling” (“Spring”) as she does in those two studio readings, her soprano voice soaring freely above the orchestra at all dynamics. Listen to the breathtakingly soft “Du..” (you) when Schwarzkopf enters at Etwas ruhiger (somewhat calmer) (CD 11, track 4, 1:43). With all of the instruments at pp and herself at something like a ppp, her voice somehow just radiates through. The next song, “September” has the soprano singing at a lower range in addition to that voice type’s usual tessitura, a test of the soloist’s adaptability and versatility. Schwarzkopf never lacks presence across the entire spectrum demanded by this Lied, and her opening phrase demonstrates her fullness near the middle C range (CD 11, track 5, 0:25-0:37). Schwarzkopf’s melisma on “sehn” (see) in “Beim Schlafengehen” (“When Falling Asleep”) is a fabulous showcase of her sheer intensity (CD 11, track 6, 0:33-0:37). Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker do their job well here, keeping a hushed tone and setting the stage for her. Notably, the violin solo at Sehr ruhig (very calm) has such a cantabile expressive quality that had I not been following the score along, I’d have easily mistaken it for an extra line for the soprano that I never knew about (CD 11, track 6, 1:36-2:37). Rounding off this disc, and the first half of Concert No. 13 is an absolutely gleaming “Im Abrendot” (“At Sunset”). The playing and singing continues to be top-notch, with Karajan and Schwarzkopf showing just how exceptionally gifted they were in the lyricism department. When the cor anglais sighingly quotes the transfiguration theme from the composer’s Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) after Schwarzkopf sings her valedictory line,“Ist dies etwa der Tod? (Is this perhaps death?), it hit me that there probably isn’t a more poignant moment in all of Strauss, and what a blessing it is to have it realized so tenderly here (CD 11, track 6, 4:31-4:43). I hope the audience gave themselves and the performers plenty of time to collect themselves after the last chord of the evening faded into nothingness.

CD 12 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 13 ꞏ 5 May 1964 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Richard Strauss:A Hero’s Life, Op. 40

The second half of our concert continues with a symphonic poem that Karajan recorded twice in the studio with the Berliners throughout his career, which are the well-known 1959 and 1985 accounts, both on DG. Sadly, the sound here is vastly inferior to both of those recordings, with its volume level so low that I had to turn the knob on my amplifier a few clicks to the right for comfort. The 1959 studio take has a much more realistic soundstage thanks to it being in stereo, despite being five years older than this radio broadcast. When the main theme sets off after the introductory flourish in “Der Held” (“The Hero”, also known as Strauss himself), it’s obvious that the dynamic range simply isn’t sufficient for a piece so vivid in its depiction of the protagonist (CD 12, track 1, 0:37-0:47). We’re supposed to have six horns, all the cellos and double basses at ff here, but it sounds somehow tamer than the f at the top of the movement. As another example, listen to the buildup before a grand pause leads us into “Des Helden Widersacher” (“The Hero’s Adversaries”). Here, the full orchestra goes from ff to fff – it’s as if all of the instruments are desperately crying out for more acoustic space to accommodate their collective power (CD 12, track 1, 3:40-4:12). The critics in the next movement are represented by sarcastic woodwinds and mocking tubas – all of which portrayed hilariously by the wind players here, helping the composer mock his opponents right back in a tongue-in-cheek way (CD 12, track 2, 0:00-0:50). Karajan really gets Strauss’ defiant tone when the fanfare comes in courageously to sweep aside the noise of the critics (CD 12, track 2, 3:42). Next we have “Des Helden Gefährtin” (“The Hero’s Companion”), where Strauss depicts his wife, Pauline de Ahna and her character, which according to the composer, is “…very complex, a trifle perverse, a trifle coquettish, never the same, changing from minute to minute.” I wonder if it’s a cause for alarm or just a merry prank that Mr. Strauss slipped in a quote once again from his Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) between the violin solos that are supposed to represent Mrs. Strauss here, then (CD 12, track 3, 1:27-1:42). “Des Helden Walstatt” (“The Hero at Battle”), which follows our at times tender, at times odd spousal portrait receives a bravado treatment, with the Berliners expertly recalling music of both the “hero” and “adversaries” themes as the chaotic battle gets underway (CD 12, track 4, 1:32). Once again, it’s truly a letdown that we have such a congested sonic presentation here, since the brass and percussion give a real knockout performance here. Just when I thought that the struggle between the composer and his critics (we know that’s who he’s fighting since the music is lifted directly from the second movement) couldn’t get any more frenzied, the trombones enter with their beastly roars that cut right through the massive band (CD 12, track 4, 4:42-5:01). If we still had any inkling of doubt about the self-referential vanity of this symphonic poem, the composer quotes even more signature themes from his previous works in “Des Helden Friedenswerke” (“The Hero’s Works of Peace”), among them Guntram, Don Quixote, Don Juan, Death and Transfiguration, Macbeth, Also sprach Zarathustra and Till Eulenspiegel. Being a veteran Strauss interpreter, Karajan obviously knew all of these works intimately, perhaps by heart, and it shows in the conspicuous way in which he makes the orchestra recollect those quotations here. The final movement, “Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung” (“The Hero’s Retirement from this World and Completion”), like its title suggests, contains many episodes of slow, contemplative material, which the performers get through without letting the tension sag too much – it’s easy to see how this denouement could feel long-winded in lesser hands, but Karajan’s sight of the narrative arc and his ensemble’s beauty of tone makes this drawn-out, self-congratulatory epilogue more than just tolerable. A fine performance, then, though one that cannot stand up to its significantly better-sounding 1959 competitor, or indeed, adversary.

CD 12 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 14 ꞏ 25 February 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
CD 13 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 14 ꞏ 25 February 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C minor (2nd version)

This performance of Bruckner’s Eighth is split across two discs, with the first and second movements featured on CD 12 and the 3rd and 4th on CD 13. A word about the edition used here: The hardcover book indicates that this is the “2nd version”, but that’s not entirely accurate; during my listening, it occurred to me that this is obviously the Haas edition of 1939, which combines both the first (1887) and second (1890) versions of the score. I’m unaware of any commercially available recording of this symphony by Karajan which uses any edition other than the Haas, which he also employed for his 1975 account with the Berliner Philharmoniker as part of his only completed Bruckner cycle, and for his 1988 take with the Wiener Philharmoniker. 

The recorded sound here, like in the last two discs, leaves quite a lot to be desired, as the claustrophobic mono soundstage is the bane of every Bruckner tutti’s existence. Exhibit A here would be the first full statement of the first theme (CD 12, track 7, 0:58-1:22), where the ff across the orchestra sounds barely fuller than the Allegro moderato’s soft opening. I appreciate how nuanced Karajan here is in rendering the theme’s rhythmic complexity though, as he makes a pretty clear distinction between the triple-, double- and single-dotted rhythms in the brass phrase, a detail often obscured in other performances. The second theme is taken at a broadened tempo as it should be since it’s marked breit und ausdrucksvoll (broad and expressive) by Bruckner, and the articulation of its key element, the Bruckner rhythm (two quarter notes plus a quarter note triplet, five notes in total) seems to be meticulous as well, with legato (smooth) distinguished from tenuto (held) in the first violins (CD 12, track 7, 2:13-2:34). The third theme shifts back to a swifter tempo (CD 12, track 7, 4:05) even though the composer didn’t indicate any changes here, but this could be forgiven not because virtually all performances of this symphony have this in common, but because the lighter texture here, what with the pizzicato (plucked) strings, makes this shift feel natural. The buildup towards the codetta (CD 12, track 7, 5:07-5:15) is expertly done here, without the intensity accumulating too much too soon. The brass chorale in the development section is gorgeously blended and shaped, somehow realizing the composer’s rather counterintuitive demand for the brass to blare away at ff but also keep things sehr ausdrucksvoll (very expressive) (CD 12, track 7, 7:06-7:32). In the colossal recapitulation of the first theme, this recording thankfully is able to give us the fff that we need after all, though the upper brass sounds quite grating here (CD 12, track 7, 8:45-9:33). The coda has some wonderful moments, too, with it beginning suspensefully (CD 12, track 7, 13:52) and with the trumpets and horns bellowing out the first theme’s dotted rhythms in the wide-open tone that Karajan’s brass is renowned for (CD 12, track 7, 14:07-14:52). The Scherzo – Trio suffers sonically from the same lack of dynamic range as the previous movement; nowhere is that more apparent than during the fff tutti passage in the initial section (CD 12, track 8, 1:23-1:44) – it really doesn’t sound that much more powerful than the ff or even f that precede it, and judging from Karajan’s later recordings of the symphony, it’s clearly a reflection of this broadcast’s audio limitations, not of the maestro’s lack of formal mastery. The Adagio really impresses me with an aspect that I’ve observed in quite a few other recordings in this box set so far, namely that the double basses have been captured with a gentle but rich booming quality. This makes the pizzicatos at the beginning of this slow, ethereal movement all the more exquisite. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse already at the first of many passages featuring the movement’s celestial harp arpeggios, where the trumpets and first violins have an awfully strident tone (CD 13, track 9, 4:17-4:26). It’s a shame that this Adagio, so reliant on the beauty of string tone for which this orchestral partnership is highly regarded, is hindered by sonics that are so unforgiving of the upper end of the frequency range. Just as I feared, the towering climax towards the end of the movement (CD 13, track 9, 21:23-21:48) had me wincing as I once again reached for my trusty friend, the volume knob. I’m a big fan of the way Karajan began the finale here. Bruckner ordered a Feierlich, nicht schnell (solemnly, not fast) treatment, but sometimes we wouldn’t have known that given the severe urgency so many conductors begin this movement with. Among other details, a more moderate tempo allows the winds to enunciate the dotted rhythms that permeate the opening theme, and the timpani to execute its grace notes clearly, too. The trombones here are ferocious, which perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise for those acquainted with Karajan’s other Bruckner Eighth recordings, but their refinement here is truly remarkable since it’s not just a matter of sheer volume but also of blend and transparency of tone (CD 13, track 10, 0:03-1:00). The second theme is off to a lovely start since the string choir is nicely cushioned by a generous amount of double bass (CD 13, track 10, 1:58-2:10), and the third theme building gradually towards the grand pause (CD 13, track 10, 4:27-5:15), which is observed for a good three seconds before the development section is allowed to arrive (CD 13, track 10, 5:18). The development section is notable for its forward momentum here, with Karajan maintaining continuity between each episode and masterfully navigating dynamic and articulation changes, such as in the transition to the march-like third theme where pp strings are suddenly interrupted by an ff orchestral tutti (CD 13, track 10, 6:11-6:16). The key for the interpreter here is to effectively realize Bruckner’s transitions, whether they be smooth modulations or simply fermatas, and still somehow weave a line through the overall form. I must say that Karajan never loses integrity throughout this movement, with his faithful adherence to the composer’s thoughtful indications being one of the primary reasons. The treatment of the recapitulation is another spot that shows Karajan’s structural grasp. The brass here return with an intensified version of the first theme, underpinned by thundering timpani and the woodwinds who are now also joining in with their  grace notes (CD 13, track 10, 15:26). Comparing the first theme’s debut in the exposition with the recapitulation, it’s clear that the maestro had his band conserve energy for the latter, where the theme is extended to a higher register for the brass as well (CD 13, track 10, 15:52-16:38). The sense of arrival in the listener is that much more palpable because of that. The third theme in the recap has been brilliantly transformed into a quasi-codetta that foreshadows the impending coda with its mysterious harmonic turns, and despite Bruckner’s viel langsamer (much slower) marking, Karajan judges the tempo here wisely and never lets this buildup sag, fully appreciating the former march’s new transitional function (CD 13, track 10, 20:37-23:17). Our long-awaited coda is as gratifying as one would’ve expected, since it serves as the epiphany for this eighty-minute work. I especially like the way the proportion of the dotted rhythms echoes the pattern’s initial appearances from all the way back at the top of the symphony, as well as how the return of the scherzo’s main motif, now in the horns,are clearly audible among the balance (CD 13, track 10, 24:36-25:02). My only regret is that the final E-D-C descent that concludes the piece hasn’t really been given sufficient weight and time (CD 13, track 10, 25:43-25:45). This motif is a glorious transformation of the probing phrase from the symphony’s opening, thus the thematic idea of revelation could’ve been driven home more assuredly had Karajan observed the rit. and accent marks on these last three notes to a greater extent. Altogether, this is a formidable reading of a formidable symphony, and a testament to both the maestro’s affinity for this repertoire and to his orchestra’s mastery of it. I wish this live concert were presented in better sonics, so I’m all the more grateful that we have the marvellous DG studio accounts from the conductor.

CD 14 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 15 ꞏ 23 September 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Divertimento in B flat major, K. 287 “Lodron Serenade No. 2”
Richard Rodney Bennett: Aubade for Orchestra

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”

Compared to the 1987 version that Karajan and his orchestra recorded towards the end of the maestro’s life, the Divertimento here receives a swifter and leaner performance. Except for the Adagio, all of the movements here are quicker than the studio account made 22 years later. When checking the track list to compare timings, I noticed that a movement is missing from the current broadcast–instead of the second Menuetto, the fifth movement here is actually the Andante – Allegro molto, which is supposed to be the sixth and last movement of the piece. What gives? I wonder if the performers simply decided to omit the second minuet during the concert in order for the initial half of the concert to maintain a reasonable length, as the Divertimento is a 40-minute work when played in its entirety. Still, it would’ve been appreciated had there been an explanation in the hardcover notes – a notice that this disc only features “selections from the Divertimento in B flat major, K. 287 “Lodron Serenade No. 2” would be a needed courtesy for the listener, in my opinion. The performance itself is nice enough, though nothing worth writing home about. This is another case where the far better sonics of the later studio account makes it an easy recommendation over this radio broadcast, especially when we have no reason to believe that it is of a regular concert and not a historic event or special occasion.

The next piece is a treat for Karajan aficionados, as it’s never been recorded anywhere else by the conductor. According to Universal Edition, the work’s publisher, the composition was commissioned by BBC for the 1964 Proms, making it barely a year old at the time of its performance here by the Berliners. One can’t help but wonder why the maestro chose to program the work. If anything, the performance here, along with the Capriccio for Soprano, Violin and Orchestra from CD 7 and Atmosphères from CD 22, go to show that Karajan had also done work to promote contemporary music, contrary to the misconception that the maestro was really only interested in the Austro-Germanic classics and some Romantic repertoire here and there. It’s an atmospheric morning song (as its title suggests) ripe with glowing but at times mysterious timbres – this, along with its instrumentation of strings, percussion and celesta (among others) evoke the mood of the night music in Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.

The second half of this concert consists of a Karajan favourite. The maestro has an exceptional reputation for his performances of this Czech-American symphony, one of the most celebrated works of the 20th century. Notably, his 1985 recording of the “From the New World” symphony with the Wiener Philharmoniker is widely lauded as one of the finest ever made of the piece, and even in 1964, which is just a year before the current concert, he had recorded a highly acclaimed account with the Berliner Philharmoniker as well. It should come as no surprise to the reader by now what I’m about to comment regarding the sonics of this radio broadcast: it’s definitely good for its age, but in no way comparable to these performers’ stereo accounts. This live concert is brisker than either of its siblings, with plenty of energy in the fast movements that keeps propelling forward. It always strikes me how in his performances of this piece, the current one included, Karajan doesn’t start the first theme of the opening movement very quickly (CD 14, track 7, 1:54) , even though it represents a shift to Allegro molto (very lively) from the introduction’s Adagio (slow). Presumably, this is to allow the dance-like second theme (CD 14, track 7, 3:00) and lyrical third theme (CD 14, track 7, 4:02) some much-needed head room to be more relaxed, as Dvořák technically asked for the whole movement, except for its introduction, to be played in the same lively tempo. The coda is as fiery as it should be, and it’s notable that even here the composer doesn’t request an intensified speed (CD 14, track 7, 8:21). Karajan respects the composer’s wish in that regard, though it’s even more obvious now that by comparison, the third theme which precedes the coda is taken at a much more leisurely rate than the other sections. The “landmark” of the symphony, its poignant melody in the Largo (very slow, broad), is played enchantingly here, with a spot-on balance between the lone English horn and the strings, then later clarinets and bassoon as well, even as the dynamics between the two groups change from p against pp to pp against ppp. Simply gorgeous (CD 14, track 8, 0:42-2:02)! Our Scherzo is really molto vivace here indeed, taking just over eight minutes. The ensemble balances in the scherzo section are fantastic, with the contrapuntal writing coming through loud and clear, while the tutti are precise and powerful (CD 14, track 9, 0:00-0:44). Like in the first movement, Karajan relaxes the tempo in the lyrical second theme here, and even though this isn’t necessarily authorized by Dvořák per se, it’s a thoughtful touch (CD 14, track 9, 1:30). The finale is another certified Karajan moment: In all recordings of this symphony that the maestro ever made, he had always asked the trumpets to be the hervortretend (striking, prominent, salient) force in the main theme here (CD 14, track 9, 0:15-0:40). Listen especially to the second phrase when Trumpet I doubles the tune at an octave higher – what a magnificent tone (CD 14, track 9, 0:27-0:40)! It baffles me how many conductors don’t allow the trumpets to take centre stage here. From other video recordings that the maestro made, it’s almost certain that the trumpets are also doubled here, with two to each part rather than one. The latter half of the first theme is done at a breathtaking speed, with the band never losing control despite its huge impetus (CD 14, track 9, 1:08-1:35). I’m glad that the climax of the graceful second theme is judged properly at the opening Allegro con fuoco (lively with passion) tempo (CD 14, track 9, 2:30) that governs the whole movement, an arrangement Dvořák used throughout the symphony. The coda is absolutely riveting (CD 14, track 9, 8:02-10:34), not just in terms of pure speed, but also the intensity of sound that the Berliners are capable of, especially in the climatic first half of the section (CD 14, track 9, 8:02-8:52). If there’s one spot in the whole concert that I wish it had been captured in stereo sound, this would certainly be it. The jazzy sixth chord in the closing bars is given the proper dance-like bounce, too (CD 14, track 9, 10:09-10:14). To put the cherry on top, the final chord in the winds is sustained for a good 8 seconds, as lunga corona (long-held) as the composer asked for, with the sonority coming down to a true ppp before fading away (CD 14, track 9, 10:20-10:28). This is an exceptionally powerful and stylish performance, and one could easily understand why Karajan was so admired for his command of this great symphony.

CD 15 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 16 ꞏ 30 December 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, Don Quixote, Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character, Op. 35, Pierre Fournier, cello, Giusto Cappone, viola

We’re now at another all-Strauss concert, starting off with perhaps the Karajan piece, no less. The maestro has three spectacular studio recordings of Also sprach Zarathustra to his name, with two of them having achieved legendary status: the 1959 rendition with the Wiener Philharmoniker, which was utilized by Stanley Kubrick in 2001: A Space Odyssey; and the 1973 account, which is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestral recordings ever made. This broadcast, although recorded live and as such didn’t have the luxury of being edited and engineered to the nines, had huge shoes to fill indeed. Sonically, it should be no surprise that it doesn’t begin to compare to the aforementioned trio, with the massive orchestral sonority degenerating into almost pure noise in the Sonnenaufgang (sunrise) opening (CD 15, track 1, 1:21-1:35). The usually rich Berliner Philharmoniker strings also sound wiry in the lyrical sections, such as the main theme of the Von den Hinterweltlern (Of the Backworldsmen) (CD 15, track 2, 0:56). The soaring theme in Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften” (Of Joys and Passions) has the strings and horns desperately crying out for more dynamic range and presence (CD 15, track 3, 0:39-1:42), too, but alas, there’s only so much mono sound could do for Strauss’ lush, Late Romantic orchestration. Due to the presence of so many other fantastic recordings of this piece, which could easily start and end with Karajan himself, I cannot recommend this performance, regrettably.

The Don Quixote, being the second half of the same concert, is captured in similarly inadequate audio. The solo cello that flows through Variation I: Gemächlich. “Abenteuer an den Windmühlen” (“Adventure at the Windmills”), for instance, at times struggles to be heard over the rest of the ensemble, being deeply recessed into the background (CD 15, track 13, 0:35-0:50). Things certainly don’t improve in the raucously scored Variation II: Kriegerisch. “Der siegreiche Kampf gegen das Heer des großen Kaisers Alifanfaron” (“The victorious struggle against the army of the great emperor Alifanfaron”), what with its bleating sheep mimicry and all. One has to sample only a few seconds of the conductor and his band’s studio recording on DG, made only a year after this broadcast in 1966, to realize just how much sonic information we’re missing out in this mono version. What a disappointment it is, that these otherwise fine accounts of two great Strauss symphonic poems have been let down this way. Unfortunately, at first it seems that we’ll have to wait “two more years”, that is, until the 1967 recordings of this box set for more direly needed stereo sound. Fortunately, a quick consultation with the hardcover notes identifies the first instalment of that as none other than our next disc.

CD 16 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 17 ꞏ 22 October 1967 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
CD 17 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 17 ꞏ 22 October 1967 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for 3 Pianos and Orchestra in F major, K. 242, Jörg Demus, Christoph Eschenbach, Herbert von Karajan, piano
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E flat major “Romantic” (2nd version)

Besides having been captured in stereo sound, this broadcast is remarkable in that it’s the only known recording where Karajan plays the piano in a Mozart concerto. To be precise, he plays one of three piano parts in this Mozart concerto, as the piece is written for three pianos. The maestro finds himself in formidable company here, with Demus and Eschenbach, both pianists with eminent Mozart reputations, taking on the other parts. There’s a curious oversight in the hardcover book notes here, as they fail to mention which musician played which solo part – though given the convention of listing the parts from primo to secundo and so on, it’s pretty safe to say that Karajan was responsible for tertio, or Piano III here. Our trio does a wonderful job in matching their tone, articulation and phrasing throughout the work, so that there’s a uniformity in the piano contributions. I’m grateful that we finally have stereo sound here, as the two channels allow the mix of the three pianos to be spread across nicely across the soundstage so that there isn’t a sense of congestion that could sometimes be an issue in concertos with more than one solo part. When all of them are playing, such as near the ending of the piece, it’s still relatively easy to tell the trio of pianos apart (CD 16, track 3, 5:04-5:14).

The second half of the concert is on its own disc, given the length of the work. As with the previous Bruckner Eighth, the notes in the book really should’ve specified that the edition played here is the Haas one, in this case published in 1936 using material from 1878/1880, because there are multiple editions of the 2nd version, including the 1878, 1881 and 1886 variants. Notably, Karajan had made all of his recordings of this symphony throughout his career using the Haas edition. Starting off with the recorded sound, our broadcast here is substantially better than the mono ones heard in this box set so far indeed. The stereo imaging is much wider, providing a realistic perspective of the massive sonority that the Berliner Philharmoniker was (and is still) famed for, especially in Late Romantic repertoire like this. Compared to Karajan and the BP’s Bruckner Fourth studio recording for EMI three years later, this broadcast has the brass more forward and present, a feature immediately apparent when the trombones make their initial entrance with the “Bruckner rhythm” at the first theme of the Bewegt, nicht zu schnell (Quick, not too fast). This which actually startled me with their impressive wall of sound (CD 17, track 1, 1:48). I appreciate how the tempo for the second theme here is kept on par with that of the first theme; Bruckner never asked for a different speed here, with etwas gemächlich (somewhat leisurely) being the only indication in some editions, but here in the Haas, not even that is given, contrary to some conductors’ intuition to relax the pace for a more bucolic feeling (CD 17, track 1, 2:37). As a departure from the 1970 EMI account mentioned above, here the brass chorale in the development section, which is based on the horn call of the first theme, is reinforced by timpani rolls (CD 17, track 1, 9:49-10:42). Since the Haas score doesn’t call for this addition, it’s safe to assume that the conductor decided to put them in for dramatic effect in this live performance. The dynamic range of Karajan and his ensemble are put on outstanding display with the stereo sound that we have, and I find myself enjoying this live performance a great deal more than the EMI studio account due to this advantage. The coda is built in a truly gradual manner here, with the tempo kept steady from the start (CD 17, track 1, 16:34), and the intensity slowly ramping up over the course of two minutes. My only reservation is that when the horn calls return near the end, they’re somehow drowned out by the timpani rolls and the dotted rhythms in the rest of the winds (CD 17, track 1, 18:07). Fortunately, they do eventually get the spotlight that they deserve in the closing bars. Overall, this is an exciting and propulsive reading of the opening movement, one that is almost a full two minutes quicker than this group’s later EMI studio effort. In the second movement, the wide dynamic range of this broadcast becomes challenging, with quiet sections in the strings, such as the pizzicato version of the A theme (this movement is in five-part ternary form, A-B-A-B-A-Coda) being so faint as to be virtually inaudible unless my volume knob lent a helping hand (CD 17, track 2, 3:10). In the EMI 1970 recording, the strings have a higher volume floor even in the softest dynamics that keep them nice and plush, but not so here. The articulations in the “hunting scherzo” are impeccably rendered. No matter how softly or loudly, it seems like the Berliner winds could always keep up with the crispness and lightness of their staccatos throughout the main sections of this third movement, and that is apparent from the beginning with the four horns. I appreciate how a combination of Karajan’s interpretation and the audio engineers’ decision allowed trumpets and horns to be clearly differentiated here, with trumpets taking the foreground and the horns chirping in the back (CD 17, track 3, 0:01-0:23). The maestro is renowned for his Bruckner performances for many great reasons – to me one of the main ones is surely his sense of structure, and the finale is a wonderful showcase of that important attribute of his. Listen to how he expertly builds the enormous opening paragraph, always accumulating tension and sustaining the melodic line until a cadence is finally reached (CD 17, track 4, 0:00-3:00). The musicians deserve tremendous credit for their handling of the third theme as well, where the staccato motif from the previous movement returns (CD 17, track 4, 5:45). The articulations are appropriately marcato sempre (always marked) like Bruckner demands, and Karajan ensures that the rhythmic incisiveness and ff dynamics don’t cause himself and his colleagues to lose grip of the tempo either. The recapitulation (CD 17, track 4, 11:07) and following coda (CD 17, track 4, 17:47) consists of some of the most powerful playing I’ve heard in this entire box set so far, with the ensemble’s polish being truly remarkable. We mustn’t forget that this performance is unedited in the sense that no patching or retakes have been done. The brass’ blend, the strings’ richness, the timpani’s ferocity…everything comes together like it had been a laborious studio production, but with the extra nervous energy exclusive to live performances. What an exceptional testament to the Brucknerian accolades that this conductor and orchestra well-deservedly enjoyed, this concert is.

CD 18 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 18 ꞏ 1 January 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Gundula Janowitz, soprano, Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano, Jess Thomas, tenor, Walter Berry, bass, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Walter Hagen-Groll, chorus master

We’re now at the third and last Beethoven Ninth of the box set, this being the most abundantly featured piece in this release. The present broadcast will be compared with the earlier one on CD 10 as it’s also in stereo sound, and references to Karajan’s 1963 studio classic will also be made as it’s for many the Beethoven Ninth, bar none.

Timing-wise, the first two movements in this broadcast are each more than a minute quicker than their 1963 studio counterparts, while the last two movements are nearly identical to theirs. Against its older 1963 sibling from CD 10, the lengths for every movement except for the third are extremely similar. Sonically, compared with the latest high resolution remastering of the 1963 studio account (review here) as well as its 1963 live sibling in this box set, this live concert is considerably thinner-sounding, having been captured at a lower level to boot. In terms of musical approach and ensemble execution, the studio effort is the most polished – not a surprise, given the natural advantages those circumstances could offer. A tricky spot for the musicians and engineers alike is the stormy recapitulation in the opening movement, where the full orchestra reintroduces the main theme, this time in major mode rather than the original minor, a dramatic turn from the exposition (CD 18, track 1, 8:00). The balances here are difficult to optimize, given the sheer sound mass created by all sections of the band, but more importantly the need to carefully blend and clarify the chord tones of the D major and minor triads, lest the effect of the harmonic surprise be lost. This passage is best rendered in the 1963 studio version, with the 1963 live account ranked after it, then the current 1968 broadcast being last. The studio take is simply the most inspiring of the three, both sonically and musically. The scherzo movement in this broadcast also shows its limited dynamic range, a fact apparent when the first ff tutti arrives (CD 18, track 2, 0:26). Strikingly, the volume here is similar to the pp (!)parts of the passage that preceded it, so constricted is the sound. Although the quality of playing here is as high as the other performances of this box set, which is to say extremely so, the sonic drawbacks are too great compared to the 1963 studio version for it to be a competitive Ninth, even just among Karajan/BP’s catalogue.

The third movement shows off the maestro’s way with legato lines very well like most of his recordings of the piece do, though I preferred the fanfares near the tail end done the way that they were in both of the 1963 versions, as I find them overdone here, with a particularly piercing trumpet tone (CD 18, track 3, 11:41-11:59 and 12:52-13:09). The finale opens with less clarity than either of the 1963 accounts, with the winds oddly recessed and slightly overwhelmed by the timpani (CD 18, track 4, 0:00-0:06). Karajan does a wonderful job in keeping the suspense alive throughout the following section (CD 18, track 4, 1:37-2:48) where themes from each of the previous movements are recalled, only to be swept aside by the recitative-like cellos and basses. I wish the glorious final variation of the “Ode to Joy” theme here was more emphatically articulated, though, as I feel that some of the notes in the tune are sustained a bit too much for what could’ve been a punchier impact (CD 18, track 4, 4:50-5:26). When Berry enters with his famous “O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!” (“O friends, not these sounds!”), the solo bass line is somehow almost entirely played through the right channel–an interesting mixing choice indeed (CD 18, track 5, 0:07-0:16), and this oddity returns when Berry returns to the spotlight in the “Turkish march” episode (CD 18, track 5, 4:07-5:01). In both of the 1963 accounts, the bass is placed dead-centre on the soundstage, which I much prefer. The big “Ode to Joy” chorus here lacks presence compared to the 1963 studio version, but isn’t behind the live 1963 broadcast on CD 10 in this regard, since that performance also has a rather recessed chorus (CD 18, track 5, 6:40-7:23). The final push to the end, starting at Poco Allegro, stringendo il tempo, sempre più Allegro (a little quick, quickening the tempo, always faster) is thrillingly done here, with superb control demonstrated by Karajan and all sections of the orchestra (CD 18, track 5, 16:13-17:45).

This is a great Ninth, one full of artistic merit, though it’s also one ultimately let down by its inferior sonic presentation compared to the 1963 studio take, and often compared to the live broadcast on CD 10 as well. Given this reservation, and the fact that this orchestral partnership has other outstanding performances of this work in the catalogue already, I cannot recommend this broadcast as one with much replay value, and my go-to Ninth remains the 1963 studio recording after hearing all three live iterations in this box set.

CD 19 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 19 ꞏ 28 September 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
CD 20 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 19 ꞏ 28 September 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83, Géza Anda, piano

This is an all-Brahms concert, split across two discs. The Brahms Fourth here is five years more recent than Karajan/BP’s studio DG recording from 1963, a fact that wouldn’t be apparent at all given the boxy mono sound that unfortunately returns. Given the late 60s vintage of this broadcast, one would’ve expected stereo sound, so it’s a major disappointment that we’re once again let down by a constricted soundstage. Even compared to the same symphony from CD 8 of this set, which is also in mono, the sound is thin and lacks presence here. Thankfully, the Berliner’s rich string tone, especially the basses, is still very much with us, it’s just that there’s no space for the sonority to bloom and take full shape–the second theme of the Allegro non troppo (not too fast) is clearly evident of this (CD 19, track 1, 2:36-2:45). I rather like the nicely flowing basic tempo that Karajan chose for this opening movement, which comes just under 13 minutes here. This is a quick movement after all, despite the composer’s warning not to go overboard. The transition from development to the recapitulation (CD 19, track 1, 7:12-7:40) is one of the most magical that Brahms ever wrote, with the opening theme being first teased in suspenseful long notes, then returning so naturally as if it’s always been there with us. Here, I think it’s rendered quite well, given the performers’ “not too fast” tempo, though I wouldn’t want it any slower, lest the theme starts to drag. There’s a lot of lovely, legato wind playing in the Andante moderato (moderate walking pace) to be admired. Brahms split up a few wind instrument groups at the main theme, with clarinets, bassoons and later horns having two parts each that either harmonize or play duets with each other, and the lyrical phrasing is beautifully done (CD 19, track 2, 0:20). Despite the mono sound, I also appreciate the buildup in the recapitulation of the secondary theme, which demonstrates considerable dynamic range when it takes the motif from the earlier transition between the two themes and escalates from pp to ff in a truly gradual crescendo (CD 19, track 2, 7:42-7:58). Next, the Allegro giocoso (fast and playful), although being nearly identical to the performance on CD 8 in terms of timing (6:06 for the former, 6:09 for the latter), feels less energetic to me given the more relaxed sonic presentation and somewhat less incisive articulation, such as in the secondary theme (CD 19, track 3, 0:50-1:15). The finale’s passacaglia is ever-so-slightly broader than the one on CD 8 in pacing, and the recessed sound also makes the performance sound less emotionally involved than its older sibling, such as when the violins enter with their passionate, ben marc. largamente (well-marked, broad) variation, the first time they get the tune in the movement (CD 19, track 4, 1:01-1:19). As in the older performance, this concert also has Karajan rightly adapting a largely steady tempo throughout, only easing gently for more variations of respite, such as the one at Rehearsal D  (CD 19, track 4, 2:37). This is important because oftentimes conductors drag excessively in the variation with the flute solo, which is sensitively played here (CD 19, track 4, 3:12-3:53). From the return of the opening’s powerful chords (CD 19, track 4, 5:52) onwards, the orchestra ratchets up the tension, and we get an emphatic ending indeed, although the slowdown in the final chords is even more excessive than in the 1961 broadcast (CD 19, track 4, 9:59-10:03). My appraisal of this performance is that while it is competent, it’s nothing that we haven’t heard better done elsewhere: if it’s the excitement of a live concert that listeners are after, the broadcast on CD 8 is better engineered; if it’s the polish that this conductor and orchestra could offer under the best recording circumstances that’s a priority, then one of the three studio accounts on DG would certainly do. As we have well-noted by now, another recurring theme of this box set is that Karajan/BP often find themselves in competition with their own work, and given that usually zero-sum nature, they can’t just come out on top in everything.

The Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with Anda had been recorded in studio for DG by Karajan/BP in the same year as this live broadcast, making comparisons of the two very fitting. Of course, the elephant in the room once again is that this concert had been captured in mono sound, while the studio effort was in stereo. In terms of clarity and spaciousness, there’s no way for this broadcast to measure positively against its studio competitor, but it’s actually more forward in sonic presence, with a more focused centre image than the DG account, which has a wider but as a result more diffused spread. This is immediately apparent with the opening pair of horn calls, which is unfortunately a tad shakily articulated in the live broadcast (CD 20, track 1, 0:02-0:25). Anda’s piano has a strong presence in the mix here, though I find his opening paragraph to be on the legato and over-sustained side, missing some of the music’s small breaths and staccato attacks (CD 20, track 1, 0:40-1:40). It doesn’t take long for the listener to grasp Karajan and Anda’s conception of at least the first movement: grandiose, dramatic, symphonic. Brahms piano concertos often require the soloist to accompany the orchestra rather than the other way around, as the keyboard instrument gets interwoven into polyphony of various densities. To that end, the performers realize their vision spectacularly well indeed. The tempestuous F minor episode in the development has Anda and the Berliners taking turns basking in the spotlight and supporting each other, and the difficult trills and leaps, some of the most devilish Brahms ever wrote, are handled with aplomb by the soloist  (CD 20, track 1, 6:56-8:12). The richness of orchestral sonority is aptly matched by the Anda’s robust tone throughout the opening movement, a great start to the performance. The ensuing Allegro appassionato (quick and passionate) is a scherzo, and features some appropriately nimble articulation from the pianist. It’s a pity that the storminess of the movement cannot be captured to its fullest due to the lack of dynamic range in the recorded sound. Listen to the woodwinds and strings’ ppp near the middle of the movement, which don’t really sound softer than the p that precedes them (CD 20, track 2, 5:27). Our Andante movement here is a moderate one in pacing, and I welcome this decision by Karajan since this is actually a remarkable aspect of this concerto–Brahms didn’t actually include a slow movement in terms of tempo marking, even though there’s plenty of intense lyricism permeating the 50-minute work. Particularly for the piano part, it spends a significant amount of time in eighth notes and even goes down to 32nd notes in some places even in this Andante, so it always gives the listener a sense of forward motion. The closing bars are as serene as one would hope for, though I do miss the round, warm tone of the piano’s bass register that Brahms’ writing is known for, given the rather thin sonic presentation of the broadcast (CD 20, track 3, 12:21-12:43). The finale, a curious Allegretto grazioso (a little fast, graceful) is given an effective treatment here–I was worried that the massive sonority that Anda and the Berliner Philharmoniker have exhibited so far would make this light, jaunty movement sound anything but, so it’s great to be pleasantly surprised by the performers’ tonal flexibility here. When called for, the plush strings are always ready to show themselves, too (CD 20, track 4, 2:49-3:00). This is most evident during the opening theme’s dramatic development, which traverses different keys (CD 20, track 4, 5:41). The coda maintains momentum impressively as one would expect of Karajan and his ensemble, and Anda has more than the technical mastery to keep up despite his quicksilver part as well  (CD 20, track 4, 8:19). A very polished and stylish performance, then, though one marred by a major sonic flaw.

CD 21 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 20 ꞏ 30 September 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90, Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73

Given just two days after the broadcast on CDs 19 and 20, this concert consists of another all-Brahms program, this time the composer’s middle symphonies. Curiously, unlike the performances above, this concert was captured in stereo sound, which makes me wonder just what changed at the Philharmonie from 28 to 30 September in 1968 – not that I’m complaining whatsoever.

Compared with their 1964 DG studio effort, Karajan/BP’s conception of the Brahms Third here is very similar, featuring bold, richly blended textures. There are no major timing discrepancies to be found between the two versions, both of which feature sensible and orthodox tempi for all movements. Sonically, the studio take is more spacious and detailed, though the live broadcast here isn’t terrible by any means, and represents a large improvement over the mono recordings in this box set. From the passionato (passionate) opening (CD 21, track 1, 0:04), the Allegro con brio (fast with brightness) is propelled forward by well-judged balances across all orchestral sections, contrary to the common accusation that the maestro favoured his enormous string section at the expense of all else in much of the Austro-Germanic repertoire. Karajan wisely holds the tranquil second theme at a very close tempo to the first, (CD 21, track 1, 1:19), only letting loose at the codetta (CD 21, track 1, 2:26), allowing the momentum to carry on effectively into the development section, since he skips the exposition repeat here. Normally I’d prefer exposition repeats to be taken, but here the brisk pace that Karajan chose wouldn’t lead naturally back to the opening theme, which had been taken much slower, so the omission is a sound judgement on his part. The Andante (walking pace) showcases gorgeously balanced woodwinds. Brahms often has each instrument playing in pairs here, with the upper parts singing legato lines over the harmonic support of the lower ones, testing the section’s ability to listen to and almost make chamber music with one another. Even when the strings enter the picture, the woodwinds (plus horns) maintain their beautifully blended choir as they collectively switch seamlessly to an accompanying role (CD 21, track 2, 1:19-1:41). Our Poco allegretto (little bit fast), perhaps the most well-known movement of the symphony with its melancholy tune, is breathtakingly phrased by the cellos at the opening (CD 21, track 3, 0:00-0:26). Once again, I applaud Karajan for selecting a flowing tempo that allows the melody to fully soar yet without getting sappy. In particular, the maestro’s tempo is so spot-on that it gives just enough space for the theme’s 32nd quintuplets in measure 11 to sing, showcasing great sensitivity to the melodic line for which he’s famed (CD 21, track 3, 0:15-0:16). When the sorrowful theme is incanted one last time, now by the first violins, the intensity of their expression despite the mp and p dynamics is truly something to behold–what a string section the Berliners have (CD 21, track 3, 4:52-5:17). The finale is assigned an exhilarating tempo, though somehow the musicians manage to keep the suspense of the sotto voce at the opening intact (CD 21, track 4, 0:00-0:12). One must marvel at the dynamic range that the Berliners are capable of here, as they shift from pp to f (sounds more like ff) and back to pp uniformly and effortlessly (CD 21, track 4, 0:47-0:54). The passionate C minor theme in the violins is emblematic of Karajan’s approach here–unleashing bold, full-bodied orchestral sonorities at key structural points, leveraging the extraordinary capabilities of his orchestra to play up the dramatic elements of the score and clarifying its form (CD 21, track 4, 1:51-2:20). This is a glorious performance of a work that clearly feels like home turf for Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

The Brahms Second here gets a sumptuous reading, though with the caveat that the violins sometimes sound strident in this performance, such as during the first theme of the opening movement (CD 21, track 5, 1:16). This is a pity, since the Brahms Third from the same concert above doesn’t suffer from this affliction to nearly the same extent, and the beauty of tone is even more important to the sweet-sounding Second. The minute-long buildup in the development section is another spot where this sonic shortfall is abundantly clear, and even Karajan’s expert handling of the episode cannot fully save the day (CD 21, track 5, 5:34-6:36). The Adagio non troppo (not too slow) begins with an intense cello melody, just like the Poco allegretto from earlier in the concert, a reminder to us just how much love Brahms gave to deep and rich voices in addition to the more traditional treble ones. Karajan lets his cello section apply a generous but tasteful amount of portamenti (slides) to the line, further expressing its vocal quality (CD 21, track 6, 0:00-1:07). I really wish we had the Berliner strings captured in higher fidelity here, as I know that their opulent tone would’ve been a match made in heaven for much of this symphony. If one ever doubted our maestro’s will to render articulative variety, they need not look further than the Presto ma non assai (very quick but not too much) section of the third movement (CD 21, track 7, 1:03). Here the offbeat accents, staccato, leggiero, ben marcato…everything is in the right place. It’s likely that the composer included this lighter section with its pointier figures as a contrast to the rest of the work, much of which is in dense, smooth textures, and our performers seize the opportunity here to give the listeners a change. The cut-time Allegro con spirito (fast with spirit) takes off with a sudden jolt of energy after a suitably hushed sotto voce (under-voiced) opening (CD 21, track 7, 0:00-0:25). Karajan and his ensemble’s prodigious skills in realizing dynamic changes, whether they be abrupt or gradual ones is on fantastic display in this finale, and it never fails to amaze me just how “together” the band sounds–not just at vertical points where they must align, but also across horizontal lines where the ability to listen and adjust to each other on the fly is crucial. The final rush to the symphony’s jubilant close sent shivers down my spine for the first time in this whole box set, so riveting was the orchestra’s rhythmic and tonal finesse (CD 21, track 8, 8:00-8:50). The giant wall of trombones (CD 21, track 8, 8:39) and the overeager timpani who gift us an extra stroke at the end (CD 21, track 8, 8:50) are icing on the cake. What a splendid achievement by all involved, this concert!

CD 22 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 21 ꞏ 5 January 1969 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 6 No. 8 HWV 326
György Ligeti: Atmosphères
Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in C major, D 944 “The Great”

The Concerto Grosso here is a different from the one found on CD 7, which I welcome, since there are quite a few duplicate compositions in this box set already. As mentioned in the review of that previous disc, Karajan made a set of studio recordings of the Concerto Grossi on DG in the late 1960’s, and the one he made of the No. 8 that we have here is actually from the same year as this concert, 1969. I must say that the sound quality of this broadcast is very impressively close to the studio account, with even a touch more centre focus in the soundstage. The interpretative approach across the two versions is virtually the same, as one would expect from an orchestral partnership as consistent as the one in discussion here, and obviously the two recordings were made very close to each other in time. Karajan and the Berliners produce a round, engulfing tone that would be fitting in a Brahms performance on CD 21, especially in the lower strings (CD 22, track 1, 2:59-3:02). The slow movements, the Grave (slow, solemn), Adagio and Siciliana (Sicilian pastoral aria) here receive a highly expressive treatment with gobs of vibrato in the strings that would make a Historically Informed Performance (HIP) practitioner blush. What’s impressive about Karajan’s approach is that despite the “big band” take of these Baroque pieces, his orchestra nearly always maintains a  crystalline transparency that lets you hear from bottom-up all of the layers of instrumental lines, and this is especially apparent throughout the concluding Allegro movement.

What a treat we have next: he only known recording of a Ligeti work by Karajan, with any ensemble. Even before I loaded up this track, I already knew that it would be a hit, given the timbral and textural refinement of the maestro and his band, and how much Atmosphères rely on the finest sensitivity to those musical elements to make its point. The opening chord of the piece consists of a staggering 59 notes across five-and-a-half octaves, and throughout its running time of just under eight minutes here, Ligeti piles instrumental groups and textures on top of each other to create sound masses that become the focus of the sonic picture, eschewing more traditional parameters such as melody, harmony, and rhythm. As clusters of tones move in and out in relation to one another, it’s imperative that the conductor shapes each crescendo, diminuendo, change in articulation, instrumentation and colour with utmost attention to the sound effects that only each of those groupings could exploit, because that’s the raison d’être of the work, instead of a sequence of changing pitches (i.e. melody) as in more conventional music, listeners are treated to a sequence of evolving timbres and textures instead, which are built with dense interwoven lines that cannot be perceived on their own but which come together to create unique timbres (i.e. micropolyphony, the term used by the composer to describe this technique). As I expected – and I had very high expectations indeed – Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker deliver here. The crescendos in the first half of the piece are so smoothly graduated that it was as if I slowly turned up the volume knob for the performers to achieve the effect (CD 22, track 7, 1:01-1:45), and the sharp drop from the highest registers of the orchestra to the lowest is as frightening as it should be (CD 22, track 7, 3:08-3:09). Given the aural feast that Ligeti, Karajan and the Berliners invite us to, I’m so thankful for the stereo sound that we have here, because this is a piece that would simply fail to convince in single-channel audio.

After traveling two centuries forward in time from the Handel to Ligeti, for the tail end of the concert we move backwards by one-and-a-half, landing on Schubert’s last completed symphony, “The Great”. Like the Concerto Grosso earlier, Karajan/BP also recorded the Schubert Eighth in 1969 in the studio for DG. That recording has a more spacious presentation and less tape hiss than the broadcast here, but the advantage of the latter is that it has a more focused soundstage again, and is less harsh when the brass plays loudly, too. This could be heard when the introduction of the first movement transitions into the exposition proper (CD 22, track 8, 3:05-3:09). The wide-open trombone tone that Karajan cultivated with his orchestra, as evidenced in many of their recordings together, is used to great effect in the transitional material to the codetta (CD 22, track 8, 5:02-5:31), as its translucent timbre echoes that of the horn call that famously opens the symphony. I wish the climax that followshad more power, though, as Schubert used fff just once in this movement and so it should be made pretty special (CD 22, track 8, 5:37-5:39). The exposition repeat is also skipped here, consistent with the practice in other performances of this set, and with radio broadcasts in general. The first movement’s exultant closing pages leave nothing to the imagination regarding the maestro’s vision of the piece, which is as grandiose as one would expect given its subtitle (CD 22, track 8, 11:54-12:29). Karajan’s vigorous tempo in the second movement deserves a lot of credit, as some conductors seem to ignore the fact that the indication by Schubert is only Andante con moto (walking pace with motion); like Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2, this symphony has no “slow” movement in the traditional sense. The long buildup in the middle of this movement is superbly executed, with a true fff at the apex this time (CD 22, track 9, 7:51). What an awe-inspiring passage, by the way! The dramatic power and brass-forward texture remind me of Bruckner, another Austrian composer whose name is often invoked when speaking of Schubert’s influence on Romantic symphonies. The terraced dynamics in the scherzo are well done, right from the opening phrase (CD 22, track 10, 0:00-0:21), and despite the heft of his ensemble’s tone, Karajan is able to keep the music sounding nimble and à propos the movement’s genre. Like the third movement, I enjoy the tempo chosen for the finale, also marked Allegro vivace (fast and lively). This external tempo relationship is important since the first two movements of the symphony, although no hymns of their own, are only indicated Allegro ma non troppo (fast but not too much) and Andante con moto, respectively, meaning that only the latter half of the work is in a really brisk pace. A brisk pace is exactly what we get from the performers, and Karajan picks a really effective basic tempo that suits all of this sonata form movement’s more-than-usual number of themes; some observers have noted that there are at least six of them here, representing another parallel often drawn between Schubert and Bruckner, since the latter prefers having at least three subject groups in his sonata forms. The energy is well-maintained throughout the finale, with a resounding conclusion that I’m sure brought the audience to its feet. Given how rousing and grandiose this performance is, I could forgive the maestro for brazenly ignoring Schubert’s diminuendo hairpin on the ultimate C octaves (CD 22, track 11, 11:12-11:16). A highly competitive account that doesn’t at all trail behind its studio counterpart.

CD 23 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 22 ꞏ 3 February 1969 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Arnold Schönberg: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

The Schönberg piece here is the first twelve-tone work that the composer wrote for a large ensemble, and also the only dodecaphonic work in this box set. Karajan/BP is of course well-known for their seminal 1974 recording of the Op. 31 that we have here, along with other items such as Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5 and Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4. Compared to that studio take, the current broadcast is “boxier” in sonic presentation, being in mono sound, and also narrower in dynamic range, which unfortunately for the listener, is a parameter crucial to the success of this work’s performance. The wild mood swings in the Mässig variation, for instance, sound very constricted here (CD 23, track 5, 0:00-0:48), but extremely vivid in the stereo account from five years later – never mind Schönberg’s antiphonal orchestration, which is sadly all but lost in the present mono recording. Personally, I think dodecaphonic music especially requires top-notch audio quality in its realization, as musical parameters other than melody and harmony become the listeners’ focus, but their nuances really cannot be appreciated if subpar sound makes them fuzzy, constricted and underplayed. With that in mind, I see no reason to return to this recording when we have the dramatically better-sounding 1974 classic so readily available, both in physical print and on streaming platforms.

Unlike the Schönberg, the Tchaikovsky symphony is ripe with catchy tunes (and certainly much more), which mono sound alone wouldn’t single handedly wipe out. Compared with these performers’ 1975 studio account, the performance here is faster in all of its movements. Similar to the latter rendition, the exposition proper of the first movement is actually taken at quite a measured pace here, not a dramatic increase in speed over the Andante from the introduction, despite being an Allegro con anima (fast with life) (CD 23, track 13, 2:25). I like the tempo because it allows the orchestral details to be brought out, such as the powerful dotted rhythm motifs (CD 23, track 13, 3:32-3:52). I enjoyed how Karajan took the Molto più tranquillo (much more peaceful) second theme at a tempo slightly under the exposition’s Allegro con anima, as Tchaikovsky asked for, so that when the latter’s speed returns in a brilliant combination of the dotted rhythm motif and the first theme, the Tempo I of the codetta (CD 23, track 13, 6:25)drives home the point that we’ve reached the start of the demarcation line of the exposition section. Great structural shaping by the maestro! The Berliners play their hearts out in this movement, with Romantic (capital R) and committed contributions from all orchestral sections, but it’s really the lush strings that took my breath away. The Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza (songful, walking pace, with some freedom) features a meltingly beautiful but unfortunately uncredited horn solo (CD 23, track 14, 0:54). Interestingly, aside from articulation markings, the only instruction that Tchaikovsky provided to the soloist here is dolce con molto espress. (sweet, with much expression), so the performer has some leeway with the dynamics. Here, the solo horn effortlessly soars over its accompaniment while remaining seamlessly blended with it, which is just the way it should be. At Con moto (with motion), the Oboe I enters about an eighth-note late, reminding us that this is a live concert; the tempo change here is much welcome, though, as this slow movement could easily turn into a wallowing mess under lesser hands, but our conductor understands that nowhere should its tension sag (CD 23, track 14, 2:38). When the “motto theme” that appears in all four movements of the symphony makes a shocking return in the climax of the central section (CD 23, track 14, 7:46-8:05), Karajan demonstrates that he also understands the axiom that “silence could be more powerful than sound” – listen to how sharply he rips off the last chord at 8:05 and how much space and time he gives to the rest (with fermata) that follows it. This is no small detail, and is one of the reasons that critics talk about such-and-such conductor’s ability to create and maintain tension throughout a piece. The Valse movement that we have next is peculiar because although its main theme is in 3/4 time like a waltz is supposed to be, its third beat is emptied out and replaced by a rest, so that instead of the usual “oom-pah-pah”, Tchaikovsky gives us an “oom-pah-?”. Karajan and his band really make it sway and dance here, with a sprightly but gentle lilt at every bar–faster waltzes like this one are supposed to be felt and conducted in one, and at the risk of sounding clichéd, it clearly sounds like our Austrian maestro feels this in his blood.

When the “motto theme” reappears in the form of a hymn in the introduction of the finale, it always evokes in me a sense of homecoming (CD 23, track 16, 0:00-0:51). I’ve never heard this touching moment played as expressively as in Karajan’s many versions of this symphony, it’s a passage that he always realizes better than anyone else, in my experience. This performance is no exception to that rule, and although the strings didn’t always manage to start their phrases together, their intensely burnished tone and silky phrasing make such a momentous part of the piece’s narrative arc especially memorable indeed. When the exposition’s Allegro vivace (fast and lively) gets underway (CD 23, track 16, 3:02), the articulations throughout the orchestra are just nigh perfect. Listen to the second statement of the main theme (CD 23, track 16, 3:09-3:13), where the whole orchestra projects the tune in eighth notes separated by eighth rests. It’s already challenging enough to keep the notes properly separated at such a rapid tempo, not to mention sufficiently different from the rhythm in the theme’s previous and succeeding statements, which are in straight quarter notes. The virtuosic Berliners manage it here, another piece of evidence that Karajan does take articulative variety seriously, contrary to the often-levied charge that his signature legatos cause most everything to mush together. The coda (CD 23, track 16, 9:20) that follows the massive B major cadence (i.e. the notorious “false ending” that often has live audiences prematurely applauding) is another Karajan highlight; among the many, many versions that I’ve heard, I’ve always found his to be the most powerful, emphatic, and triumphant. One must remember that the Fifth isn’t a small work, being a 45+ minute-long Romantic symphony, with its expressive depth and breadth demanding all pent-up tension to be fully resolved in this overwhelming coda. The trumpets – oh, the trumpets! I challenge the reader to find another conductor who would let those bugles go as “all out” on the final peroration of the “motto theme” as Karajan does here (CD 23, track 16, 10:06), and indeed in all of his recordings of this work that I know of. As is clearly evident by now, I’m a big admirer of the hot-blooded, dramatic, yet refined take on Tchaikovsky for which Karajan is rightly praised, and the occasional flubs in his ensemble’s playing won’t be nearly enough to keep me from returning to this remarkable broadcast.

CD 24 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 23 ꞏ 21 September 1969 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Béla Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz 106
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”

In our final concert, we get what I think is a brilliant program, pairing Bartok’s atmospheric Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta with Beethoven’s epic “Eroica” symphony. Karajan/BP have of course recorded both of these pieces in the studio in the 1960’s, for EMI/Warner and DG, respectively. 

Starting with the Bartók, the muted strings are at once blended with, and distinctive from, each other as each fugal entry occurs in the beginning of the first movement. I do think that Karajan/BP is very well suited for a piece that relies so much on conjuring the right atmosphere, given the Berliner’s vast tonal palette and ability to draw from it in virtually any given situation. The fff climax in the latter half of the movement is shatteringly powerful as it should be, and the build-up leading to it is as smooth and gradual as I’ve ever heard (CD 24, track 1, 4:35). The second movement, a blistering Allegro, showcases the Berliner Philharmoniker at their most coordinated, with complex and shifting rhythms, meters and textures abound but at no point was there any sense that any section is out of sync with another. Listen to the middle section with the pointy piano chords, and how precisely they align with the pizzicati of the first strings group (Bartók divided the section into two groups, each placed on one side of the stage, so that antiphonal effects could be created) (CD 24, track 2, 2:39). Next, the composer’s signature “night music” takes the stage, and this is the movement that puts timbre and atmosphere above other musical parameters. The orchestra is certainly more than up to the task in breathing life into this mysterious Adagio, though I could see how one might feel that the BP’s violas are too richly toned when the dynamic at their entrance is only p. (CD 24, track 3, 0:26). It really helps that our broadcast here has a remarkably wide soundstage, allowing sound effects like timpani, harp, piano glissandi and the aforementioned antiphonal strings to be heard in all of their splendour. The rowdy folk dance that rounds off the piece gets off the ground right from the top, with the orchestra ready to move it. In a movement that relies so much on rhythmic accents, articulations and rests to be in the right places to make sense, it’s no surprise that Karajan and his ensemble do so well, and although their execution is fantastically precise, one doesn’t get the sense that this is merely a well-oiled machine.; it is, but it’s also much more flexible than that, and the almost telepathically coordinated tempo changes, such as the massive rallentando (slowing down) and allargando (broadening) in the final bars (CD 24, track 4, 7:12-7:32) could not be better proof that this is the polar opposite of soulless playing. 

How fitting it is that the box set ends with the same piece that began our sixteen-year journey in time with Karajan/BP, Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony. With the exception of the scherzo, all of the movements in this 1969 broadcast are quicker than its 1953 sibling. The soundstage is much wider and deeper due to it being recorded in stereo, and it’s notable how Karajan’s approach towards vertical sonorities shifted towards the more tenuto, heavier side over in those sixteen years; just pay attention to how differently the two beginning chords are articulated: in the 1953, we get two powerful but incisive attacks, whereas in the 1969, the sonorities are spread out by having the strings start the chords ever-so-slightly before the rest of the orchestra, so that the overall tone is fuller and rounder (CD 24, track 5, 0:00-0:03). Also, check out the gargantuan weight that the maestro gives the sf chords towards the end of the exposition (CD 24, track 5, 2:29-2:35). The movement’s notorious harmonic clashes at the climax of its development section have almost unbearable power, as a result of the conviction of the BP’s playing as well as the fidelity in which it’s been captured  (CD 24, track 5, 5:31-5:37). The dynamic range is also sufficiently wide, much more so than the 1953 broadcast, that it allows Beethoven’s dramatic syncopations, sforzandi, and dissonances to come right through. I prefer the tempo for the Marcia funebre here over the one in the 1953 performance, as it being more than a minute quicker (16:09 vs. 17:21), I think allows the work’s great scope to be conveyed more coherently. One mustn’t forget that this funeral march is rather unusual in its great length and extensive structure for its time, with its themes being highly developed as if the movement was in sonata form. Although marked Adagio assai (very slow) by the composer, it doesn’t mean that the movement shouldn’t maintain forward momentum (it is a march after all), and Karajan is thankfully cognizant of this, as he never lets any of the movement’s many themes drag. The C major fanfare before the false recapitulation of the opening theme has an immense grandiosity that is fitting of a protagonist of this symphony’s association indeed (CD 24, track 6, 6:08-6:29), and is testament to our conductor’s aptly epic vision of the work. The ensuing Scherzo has wonderful touches to it as well. While still being full in orchestral sonority, its crispness in articulation ensures that the light-hearted nature of its genre isn’t at all lost–a crucial point here since the movement needs to function as a direly needed respite from its sombre predecessor and imposing successor. A small nitpick that I have is that I’d have preferred the last few bars to be in tempo instead of getting the slight allargando that we got, since that’d give a more decisive finish in my opinion (CD 24, track 7, 5:49-5:51). The Finale is a tour de force, a magnificent conclusion to the grandest symphony written till then. Being a set of theme and ten variations, the movement traverses a vast expressive, technical and orchestrational territory, and is as much a test of an orchestra’s collective chops as it is of a conductor’s mastery of form and coordination.

Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker’s approach here is entirely consistent with what we’ve seen in the previous three movements, and indeed in the orchestral partnership’s other Beethoven recordings as well–bold, full-bodied, dramatic and virtuosic. The sheer majesty of the introduction here would probably already shock listeners who are used to Historically Informed Performances (HIP) or even just more moderate takes on Beethoven (CD 24, track 8, 0:00-0:13). Over the course of the next twelve minutes, no matter what marking the composer threw at our performers, be it legato, staccato, sf, pizzicato, triplets, dotted rhythms, or others, they manage to render all of them in precision and in style. Not only does Karajan/BP manage to make something as weighty as their sonority somehow move so nimbly, their tone also somehow maintains a transparency from bottom-to-top (not the other way around since the maestro builds his orchestral sonority in a traditional German way, with a strong bass foundation) that would make many a chamber orchestra envious. One of the litmus tests that I use for this symphony to determine whether I like the interpretation is the variation at Rehearsal F, where the horns get to cover themselves in glory with the most heroic version of the melodic theme (CD 24, track 8, 8:20-9:16). What a sensational tone the Berliner horns have cultivated! The coda is one of the most thrilling, truly Presto ones that I’ve ever heard (CD 24, track 8, 11:19-12:08), and never have I wished more that the applause had been left in at the end of each performance, because as this broadcast and the entire box set comes to its conclusion, I almost cannot resist joining the standing ovations that the audiences at these concerts must have rightly heaped on Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker. 

What an exceptional journey it has been to go through sixteen years and twenty-four discs of live broadcast recordings, made by one of the most extraordinary orchestral partnerships in history. For the fact that this box set represents a never-before-seen opportunity to experience Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker in uncut performances of such a broad range of repertoire, this release is an absolute must for aficionados of the maestro, the ensemble, and orchestral excellence in general. Although none of the recordings here are entirely superior to their studio (and stereo) counterparts made by the same performers in artistic, and certainly not sonic terms, their sense of occasion, spontaneity and representation (however flawed) of Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker at a live concert setting make them peerless; simply put, there’s no single release on the market in 2025 that gives listeners and collectors what this box set does, and that is a collection of valuable historical documents that happen to be of incredible musical value.

Kelvin Chan

Previous reviews : John Quinn (March 2025) ~ Philip Harrison (March 2025)

Contents

CD 1 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 1 ꞏ 8 September 1953 ꞏ Titania-Palast, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”

CD 2 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 2 ꞏ 22 November 1954 ꞏ  Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

CD 2 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 3 ꞏ 22 February 1955 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde, Prelude and Liebestod

CD 2 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 4 ꞏ 21 January 1956 ꞏ Paulus-Gemeinde Zehlendorf, Berlin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D minor,  K. 466, Wilhelm Kempff, piano, Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter” 

CD 3 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 5 ꞏ 10 December 1956 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Richard Strauss: Es gibt ein Reich (There is a realm) from Ariadne auf Naxos, op. 60, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

CD 4 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 6 ꞏ 19 February 1957 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 100

CD 5 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 7 ꞏ 25 April 1957 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Elisabeth Grümmer, soprano, Marga Höffgen, mezzo-soprano, Ernst Haefliger, tenor, Gottlob Frick, bass, Chor der Sankt Hedwigs-Kathedrale, Karl Forster, chorus master

CD 6 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 8 ꞏ 25 May 1957 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, op. 37, Glenn Gould, piano
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82

CD 7 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 9 ꞏ 20 September 1959 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
George Frederic Handel: Concerto Grosso in D major, Op. 6 No. 5, HWV 323
Rolf Liebermann: Capriccio for Soprano, Violin and Orchestra, Irmgard Seefried, soprano, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, violin
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120

CD 8 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 10 ꞏ 10 October 1961 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Claude Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Orchestral Suite No. 2, Symphonie chorégraphique on a scenario by Mikhail Fokin

CD 9 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 11 ꞏ 1 March 1963 ꞏ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin
Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, Maria Stader, soprano, Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano, Luigi Alva, tenor, Walter Berry, bass, RIAS Kammerchor, Günther Arndt, chorus master, Edith Picht-Axenfeldt, harpsichord, Helmut Schlövogt, oboe d’amore, Fritz Wesenigk, Herbert Rotzoll, Karl Pfeifer, piccolo trumpets

CD 10 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 12 ꞏ 15 October 1963 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Gundula Janowitz, soprano, Sieglinde Wagner, mezzo-soprano, Luigi Alva, tenor, Otto Wiener, baritone, Chor der Sankt Hedwigs-Kathedrale, RIAS Kammerchor, Günther Arndt, chorus master

CD 11 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 13 ꞏ 5 May 1964 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Richard Strauss: Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra in D
Major, Lothar Koch, oboe, Four Last Songs, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano

CD 12 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 13 ꞏ 5 May 1964 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
MONO: CONCERT NO. 14 ꞏ 25 February 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin  
Richard Strauss: A Hero’s Life, Op. 40
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C minor (2nd version) (1st and 2nd movements)

CD 13 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 14 ꞏ 25 February 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C minor (2nd version) (3rd and 4th movements)

CD 14 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 15 ꞏ 23 September 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Divertimento in B flat major, K. 287 “Lodron Serenade No. 2”
Richard Rodney Bennett: Aubade for Orchestra
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”

CD 15 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 16 ꞏ 30 December 1965 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, Don Quixote, Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character, Op. 35, Pierre Fournier, cello, Giusto Cappone, viola

CD 16 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 17 ꞏ 22 October 1967 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for 3 Pianos and Orchestra in F
major, K. 242, Jörg Demus, Christoph Eschenbach, Herbert von Karajan, piano

CD 17 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 17 ꞏ 22 October 1967 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E flat major “Romantic” (2nd version)

CD 18 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 18 ꞏ 1 January 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Gundula Janowitz, soprano, Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano, Jess Thomas, tenor, Walter Berry, bass, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Walter Hagen-Groll, chorus master

CD 19 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 19 ꞏ 28 September 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

CD 20 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 19 ꞏ 28 September 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin 
Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83, Géza Anda, piano

CD 21 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 20 ꞏ 30 September 1968 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90, Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73

CD 22 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 21 ꞏ 5 January 1969 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 6 No. 8 HWV 326
György Ligeti: Atmosphères
Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in C major, D 944 “The Great”

CD 23 ꞏ MONO: CONCERT NO. 22 ꞏ 3 February 1969 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Arnold Schönberg: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

CD 24 ꞏ STEREO: CONCERT NO. 23 ꞏ 21 September 1969 ꞏ Philharmonie, Berlin
Béla Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz 106
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”

Buying this recording via a link below generates revenue for MWI, which helps the site remain free