Cubefield The Final Level

Beethoven. Comprehensive Symphonies. Herbert von Karajan. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. First Edition Comprehensive DG. 1961. 1962.

Dear friends, we continue today with the rise of some exceptional CD. Correspond to the first integral to the DG recording of Beethoven symphonies performed by the teacher and his wonderful orchestra Karajan, the Berlin Philharmonic.

After an initial approach to EMI (exceptional and wonderful), Karajan made a second approach to his beloved Beethoven gotten by taking advantage of technical improvements in the years since the first until the beginning of the second integral and pursuing a vision to achieve set uniform single most contributing to the fact that the recordings were made in the course of a year, between December 1961 and November 1962, all with the same instrument orchestra, the Philharmonic Berlin with Karajan and all in top form, technical, human, professional and emotionally.

Karajan is very constant in the overview of their approaches and I think that gives a comprehensive symphony of Beethoven's most beautiful ever recorded, comparable in all respects to those of Szell, Furtwangler, Klemperer and Cluytens (among the most mentioned I know). I think comparing the two approaches of Karajan himself, manages the vitality of the EMI with the perfection of its last comprehensive DG (I must confess I still find a monument phono historic and exceptional). Joining the usual technical perfection of the master with an impressive performance from the Berlin Philharmonic and a freshness, spontaneity and vitality of a mature age Karajan and the young couple, offers a beautiful set of performances, just wonderful.

All the symphonies have a particular interpretation in which the characteristics of the works are presented in a unique and very characteristic of Karajan; Aunan freshness, energy, rhythm, vitality, and perfection in execution. The mastery and virtuosity of Berliners is spectacular, both overall and in soloists (wonderful strings and woodwinds, brass sound delicious and beautiful) and although being a point lower than that seen in digital recordings of the last integral, are extraordinarily beautiful, rich sound, with an amazing freshness. Karajan and the Berliners offer a dynamic rarely seen in a similar way in their joint work. A stunning perfection in the execution is accompanied by a colorful and beautiful timbre.

Karajan runs and runs in its usual form in Beethoven: precision, perfection, clean sound, fast tempos, sound richness, dynamism, perfect continuity in the development of works, etc. But it leaves us a bit more. Collecting a huge emotional beauty in their translations, there is a heart and passion. There is no mechanism or stiffness, work flow dynamically flexible, rich in expressiveness, wonderful in its sound, detailed and very nuanced. Note, as indicated, passion and emotion. There is energy, strength, joy, vitality, emotion, longing, feelings and states of vitality and strong emotion. The communion between teacher and orchestra is excepcionaly reflects the deep respect and admiration for each of those years its initial joint venture (with the passing years these relations were to deteriorate slowly in part by the closure of the orchestra and Karajan himself and partly by the wear and tear of the years in addition to economic issues and personal).

I leave this landmark album that I truly deserve to be had among the largest. Each and every one of the symphonies have their charm and their "hidden wonder." In all is the spark and the genius of Beethoven and I believe wholeheartedly that they will enjoy and be surprised by these interpretations of one of the largest pairs of music history. Enjoy it and palate.

Beethoven Symphony

Integral

Herbert von Karajan

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

First Edition DG

Berlin, Jesus-Christus-Kirche.

Sinf. 1: 12, 1961. Sinf. 3: 11 of 1962

Sinf. 2: 12, 1, 1961 and 1962. Sinf. 4: 11 of 1962

Sinf. 5: 3 of 1962. Sinf. 6: 2, 1962

Sinf. 7: 3 of 1962. Sinf. 8: 1, 1962

Sinf. 9: 10 and 11, 1962. Gundula Janowitz, soprano, Hilde Rossel-Majdan, high, Waldemar Kmentt, tenor, Walter Berry, baritone. Wiener Singverein, Reinhold Schmid, director.