Customer Reviews

Karajan: Symphony Edition

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Admirers of Karajan will probably own most or all of these symphony cycles from what was probably the pinnacle of the conductor's prolific career. However, if you are unfamiliar with Karajan's work, or well enough acquainted with it to desire further exploration, then this amazingly inexpensive anthology can be enthusiastically recommended. I purchased all of these sets when they came out in DG's previous mid-priced "Karajan Symphony Edition," and I can testify to their consistently oustanding quality, both as performances and as interpretations. As recordings, however, it must be admitted that the sound is of variable quality; sometimes admirably vivid and well balanced, but frequently tending toward harshness, even garishness--particularly in those which come from the early digital era (cf. Bruckner's symphonies 1-3). Too bad Universal didn't see fit to give this magnificent legacy a sonic facelift. Still, the performances are sufficiently worthy of your attention to warrant purchase regardless of these sonic limitations.

Here is a brief rundown of the symphony cycles included in this box:

1. Haydn "Paris" and "London" symphonies (nos. 82-87 and 93-104): We don't usually think of Karajan as a great Haydn interpreter, but the evidence belies that impression. His recorded legacy contains quite a lot of the composer's music including these two symphony sets, two versions of *Creation* (DG), *The Seasons* (EMI) plus some miscellaneous symphonies (82, 83, 104, also for EMI). The Haydn symphonies included in this box are, to be sure, given the "big band" treatment; nevertheless, they have a spring to their step as well as a warmth and, where appropriate, a dramatic urgency, which mostly keeps them from sounding turgid or languid. Karajan generally favors upbeat tempos and though, as we might expect, textures are blended and phrasing smooth, Haydn's wit and sparkle survive intact. Only the slow and stately Menuettos might prove controversial, though many modern-orchestra conductors, such as Bernstein, Dorati and Solti favor a similar approach to these movements. In the end, Karajan would not be my first choice in this repertoire: I prefer the earthier Bernstein in the Paris group and the leaner, more vibrant Solti in the London. But Karajan's Haydn is not to be dismissed; he brings a combination of majesty and elegance which is often surprisingly convincing.

Mozart Symphonies (33, 35-41): I am less enamored of Karajan's Mozart than his Haydn. The conductor was at his best in Mozart in his younger days; his finest batch of Mozart symphonies come from Vienna and the Philharmonia in the 1950's (check out EMI's omnibus Karajan edition for these). Those earlier performances have a vitality and leanness of texture which the DG performances from the 1970's lack. On the other hand, it is possible to enjoy, even revel in, the glorious sounds of the BPO while disregarding the overly sleek, and sometimes bloated, textures Karajan evoked in later years. Again, not a first choice in this repertoire (I prefer Beecham, Klemperer, Walter and Szell), but worth hearing.

Beethoven Symphonies 1-9 and Selected Overtures: DG have given us the 1977 cycle here, not the better-known and more commonly recommended cycle from the early Sixties. In all, Karajan gave us four Beethoven Symphony cycles: One for EMI (with the Philharmonia, in Mono), and three for DG (one from each decade after 1960). He also recorded miscellaneous Beethoven symphonies in Vienna during the late '40's. In general, I prefer his earliest efforts in Beethoven, which have a clarity and incisiveness Karajan would only intermittently realize in his two stereo and one digital Beethoven cycles. Yet there is no denying that the 1977 cycle is an remarkable accomplishment. In many ways the interpretations seem fresher and more spontaneous than those from the early '60's. In 1977, the *Eroica* blazes fiercely at somewhat hectic speeds in the outer movements and the Ninth is nothing short of overwhelming in its elemental power. The Sixth is definitely more congenial in 1977; the earlier Berlin version sounded uncomfortably rigid and businesslike, at very brisk tempos. Otherwise, there's not much difference between the two Stereo cycles, except that the interpretations in 1963 seem less focused, or fully formed, than in 1977.

Schumann Symphonies 1-4: If you were introduced to Schumann's chimerical muse through Bernstein's classic set of the four symphonies, Karajan may strike you as too level-headed, even stuffy. He certainly doesn't convey the manic-depressive qualities in Schumann's music as effectively as Bernstein. On the other hand, Karajan does convey a breadth and almost Brucknerian majesty in no. 2 that is quite unique. A glorious performance. The Fourth is also superlative--the only version that can seriously rival Furtwängler's classic account for its control of tempo, transition and texture. The "Spring" and "Rhenish" are also very fine: sumptuously played, beautifully crafted, intelligently structured--but wanting in spontaneity.

Mendelssohn Symphonies 1-5: A surprise, perhaps, that Karajan should prove such a sympathetic Mendelssohn interpreter, but so it is. This is, in my estimation, the most involving Mendelssohn cycle ever recorded; it easily surpasses Abbado, Dohnanyi, and Sawallisch (among those cycles with which I am familiar). Karajan evokes playing from the BPO that is little short of glorious in all five symphonies. His tempos seem just right (not too breathless in the Scottish and the Italian) and his strong advocacy of the two lesser-known works (the early c-minor, no. 1, and the once-popular *Lobgesang*, no 2) may convince you that their relative neglect is unwarranted. The *Lobgesang* in particular is given an affectionate, expansive, and--in the Choral finale--exultant reading that makes it a prime recommendation for this work. Only the "Reformation" disappoints on account of its rather inflated rhetoric--though no more so, perhaps, than many other versions.

Brahms symphonies 1-4, plus Tragic Overture and Haydn Variations: Brahms was one of Karajan's specialties; he recorded at least four complete cycles plus numerous miscellaneous versions of particular symphonies at different times in his career. The cycle included here probably represents his most mature thoughts on a composer for whom he had a particular affinity. These are warm, yet dramatically compelling accounts, in which every detail takes its place within a clearly-articulated structure. The same goes for the Haydn Variations and Tragic Overture. If, in the end, Furtwängler, Klemperer and Walter brought special insights to these works that Karajan's more generalized interpretations cannot match, Karajan is certainly leagues ahead of the many faceless or tendentious Brahms cycles that have come our way since the 1970's. A strong recommendation, then, even though one might want to supplement these recordings with those by the conductors listed above.

Bruckner Symphonies 1-9: For a more complete exposition, see my Amazon.com review of this classic Bruckner cycle for the older "Karajan Edition." Suffice it to say here that Karajan was one of the half-dozen greatest interpreters of this composer. His Bruckner tends toward the Olympian in its loftiness, grandeur and spaciousness. Though by no means chilly, Karajan's take on this composer is neither intimate nor humane, but rather stresses the sublimity, even the remoteness, of these vast symphonic mountain-peaks. He is at his best in 1, 4, 5, 7-9. The others offer superb playing, but are either subverted by strident early-digital recording (particularly atrocious in the case of no. 3), or compromised by a less than fully sympathetic interpretation (2 and 6).

Tchaikovsky Symphonies 1-6: Karajan recorded Symphonies 4, 5 and 6 so many times one loses track of them all! If nothing else, this proliferation of recordings indicates that Karajan took the composer seriously; not for him a condescending attitude toward Tchaikovsky! Among his many versions of the Final Three (and I have heard most of them), my preference would be for those with the BPO from the 1960's (one traversal for EMI, another for DG, as I recall). Karajan peaked as a Tchaikovsky interpreter during that decade; thereafter a certain staleness crept into his renditions of 4-6, for all their rhetorical power. On the other hand, Karajan's only recording of the three early symphonies, also included in this complete set, represent a fresh encounter with the music, and for this reason they sound as vital and atmospheric as one could wish. Indeed, these are among the very best versions available of the "Winter Dreams, "Little Russian" and "Polish" symphonies. Some critics have found them more "Teutonic" than "Slavic," but I tend to disagree. If by "Slavic" one means "prone to emotional extremes, darkly brooding and effusively sentimental"; and if by "Teutonic" one means "given to rigor, order, and discipline"; then the foregoing assessment is based on cultural stereotypes not responsible criticism. In fact, Karajan's renditions of these early symphonies are both emotionally charged and intellectually rigorous; an ideal combination, in my estimation, and one that reveals Tchaikovsky as a master symphonist even at this relatively early stage in his career.

In sum, then, this massive box provides a superb survey of Karajan's genius at full stretch, warts and all. The recordings do not always fall pleasantly on the ear, but the BPO's collective virtuosity, beyond praise, amply compensates for sonic limitations. And the price is definitely right. What are you waiting for?

UPDATE: Apparently this set is now out of circulation, and so the price is no longer "right"! Listners interested in these outstanding Karajan symphony cycles should check on the availability of earlier reissues of each cycle. Some of these may be offered at discount rates from Amazon's "used and new" sellers. The Bruckner cycle has recently been issued separately once again in a collector's edition bargain box, and is worth anyone's investment.

This 38-CD box gathers at super-budget price a raft of recordings that are otherwise full or mi price in the DG catalog. There are only a few sweeteners, such as a Schuman Fourth from 1987 with the Vienna Phil. The Beethoven cycle is from 1977, the second done for DG. The Brahms is the 1977-78 cycle, also his second. Good as this bargain is, the eight symphonic cycles that are included will also be released as separate sets in due course (they are already out in the UK but at twice the price per disc).

Veteran collectors will be disappointed to know that none of these recordings have been remastered, only repackaged. A great shame, since the Bruckner cycle, one of Karajan's great achievements, suffers from a poor digital transfer that is glaring, shallow, and afflicted with tape hiss left over from its LP incarnations.

I'm not here to review but only to list the contents:
Beethoven:
Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (complete)

Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Peter Schreier & José van Dam

Wiener Singverein

Egmont Overture, Op. 84

Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b

Fidelio Overture Op. 72c

Coriolan Overture, Op. 62

The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, Op. 43

The Ruins of Athens Overture, Op. 113

Brahms:
Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (Complete)

Tragic Overture, Op. 81

Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a 'St Anthony Variations'

Bruckner:
Symphonies 1-9 (Complete)

Haydn:
Symphonies Nos. 82 - 87 (the Paris Symphonies)

Symphonies Nos. 93 - 104 (the London Symphonies)

Mendelssohn:
Symphonies Nos. 1-5

Mozart:
Symphony No. 35 in D major, K385 'Haffner'

Symphony No. 36 in C major, K425 'Linz'

Symphony No. 37 in G, K444

Symphony No. 38 in D major, K504 'Prague'

Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K543

Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550

Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551 'Jupiter'

Symphony No. 29 in A major, K201

Symphony No. 32 in G major, K318

Symphony No. 33 in B flat major, K319

Schumann:
Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (Complete)

Overture, Scherzo, and Finale, Op. 52

Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120

1987 recording

Wiener Philharmoniker

Tchaikovsky:
Symphonies Nos. 1-6 (complete)

I am stunned at what DG has put into one box here, and I have already recommended it to friends galore. We have in one box the complete symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Bruckner, and a selection of the best of Haydn and Mozart. You can make a very convincing argument that the Beethoven, Bruckner, Mendelssohn, and Schumann sets in this box are the best complete sets ever recorded by anyone. And the remainder are never anything less than compelling.

Let me talk just about two of the sets that I'm most familiar with here, the Beethoven and the Bruckner. I have always favored Karajan's 1970s Beethoven set, with its exceptional performances of 5, 7, and 9, and excellent performances of the rest, including #6--which is surprising because I don't think this is a symphony Karajan was especially responsive to. I have not heard his 1950s EMI set, but I've always thought that his 1970s recordings (in general) were Karajan's golden era, and his Beethoven from this period was special.

And with regards to the Bruckner set, what more can I add to the tremendous accolades this set has received? It's the greatest of all time. I do not think any conductor will ever achieve in a complete cycle what Karajan achieved with this amazing set, of the composer whose music means the most to me of all. I disagree with others' assessments that #2 or #6 are weak links. In my opinion, #2, and #4-9 are all EXCEPTIONAL performances. I do not listen to Karajan's #1 because on its own, it's not convincing, but more importantly, because Jochum's #1 with the Berlin Philharmonic is one of those rare "definitive" performances that makes you not want to hear any others. And with regards to #3, I don't listen to it because I prefer the unedited original version (which Tintner does best), rather than the most heavily truncated, third version which Karajan records here. One other comment about this Bruckner set: The playing of the Berlin Philharmonic has to be heard to be believed. I have never, ever, heard such consistently incredibly playing in any music. The orchestral balance is perfect, all the instrumental voices come through, the instrumentalists "sing," and this is the orchestra's finest hour ever, in my opinion. The playing alone is worth the price of admission.

If you haven't figured it out by now, I can't recommend this highly enough.

Karajan recorded many of these works several times (and with variable results). In general, his 1960's recordings have the greatest urgency, as he got older he tended to slow the pace and go for more heavily underlined phrasing and thick textures lacking in orchestral transparency. The bulk of this set is from the 1970's, which many enjoy as a middle ground between his styles (which admittedly is something of an over generalization to help orient those intimidated by his massive discography). The recording dates for this series are:

Beethoven 1975-77
Brahms 10/77-2/78
Bruckner 1975-76, 1979-81
Schumann 1971 (Symphonies 1-4), 1987 (additional live version of #4)
Mendelssohn 1971-72
Tchaikovsky 1967, 1976-77

Let it be known!...This box set will soon be discontinued by DG. It is "limited edition", which means that they will only produce so many copies. (DG already stopped producing the Oliver Messiaen 32 CD Complete Edition box I found out from my local classical distributor, which only came out last week!)

This Karajan edition really stunts all of the other recent Karajan editions that have been coming out. Everyone knows that these are his greatest recordings from his golden years of the 70's, not to mention the sound engineering on them were Karajan's best from his entire discography in terms of quality, depth and range...so I will save my praises on each of the cycles, since they've been sung endlessly already!

I will just note that this is a small hardcover box with slip sleeves. The booklet only has the cd listings and track timings...NO LINER NOTES WHATSOEVER.

But with the the price of the box not even a hundred dollars...and with each of the seperate cycles going for roughly $50 to $100 anyway...that makes this 38 CD box irrisistible and a lifetime investment!

WOW is all I can continue to say!

How times change. Many dedicated music collectors of long standing would have acquired a host of the performances featured in this massive set at premium cost. Now it reappears at a fraction of the initial price; so cheap that any existing duplications can be distributed as gifts and you will still be ahead.

The undoubted gem of the set is the Bruckner cycle; particularly numbers 4,5,7,8 and 9. The balance are also good versions but suffer from dry sound. The Beethoven is reliable but is bettered by the 1963 set. The Tchaikovsky cycle is renowned and the Mendelssohn (apart from a drily recorded 2) is estimable. The Schumann and Brahms are well worth a listen. The Haydn and Mozart are generally bloated and unstylish but never unsatisfactory. The Haydn Paris symphonies are surprizingly an exception and are very enjoyable.

The sound on the various issues is obviously varied. The Mozart and Haydn are overblown but tolerable. None will qualify as demonstration discs but most will pass muster. Buying this set is a handy and cheap way of assembling a generally handsome and large batch of well played symphony performances. How nice to be a music lover just beginning to build a collection.

These are recordings mostly from the 70s. The Bruckner cycle is surely one of the best ever, as is the Tchaikovky, so just for that alone the price is good. But there is more: a superb Mendelssohn cycle, a superb Schumann set, and good cycles of Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn.

The sound is good late analogue. The orchestra is terrific.

This set will be attractive to those starting a collection as it is outstanding value at less than $US100 for the whole package. It is a fantastic overview of Karajan's recording accomplishments and these performances, for the most part, are highly recommended. However experiemced collectors who are interested in Karajan's performances will already have many of these recordings in other issues, and it is a great shame that Universal chose to overlook the opportunity to remaster these great recordings. I personally would have been prepared to pay more if the recordings had been facelifted and so therefor can only award four stars for this pack as some of these recordings have not been transferred well.

This is great value for the Karajan fan, my caveat being that, like most (all?) Karajan, this is often more Karajan than composer. The recordings cover a wide period of Karajan's symphonic conducting, and often reveals Karajan's "vision" of the most important parts of the orchestral sound. And for me this is the problem.

Almost throughout, the orchestra is 'acoustically edited' via microphone placement and (re)mixing to emphasize what Karajan views as the important parts of the sound, while diminishing all the other "stuff". A simple case in point (as there are 38 CDs!), is the last movement of the Chaikovsky Third Symphony where the strings are almost not present -- at all. The first time listener would miss 40% (or so) of this movement; it's simply all brass (and quite close mic'ed as well).

Bruckner Seven and Nine as two more examples reflect the same "my vision" attitude. Forty years (or so) later, I have become accustomed to basic excellent performance; the playing on many of the "lesser" works (eg lower number Bruckner, and Chaikovsky) is often 'radio orchestra' quality.

The Beethoven cycle, excellent in many ways is for me caught up in the personality of Karajan. I think of how Furtwangler brings out the epic and drama without always saying "look at me". The Haydn symphonies are a Karajan showcase -- look what I can make from these pieces.


Will I go back to listen to (m)any of these CDs again? It's unlikely. i know just about all of these pieces reasonably well and found some surface features interesting, and some large-scale structures reflect Karajan's strength in long-term shaping, but there are many other more precise (classical view) recordings, and many other more personally forceful (romantic view) recordings, and these are the ones I will return to, to listen to the music.

What other reviewers have said in praise of this set is all true -- it's an incredible bargain for such a trove of music. But geez, did DG have to be so chintzy in designing the set?

Comes in a 2" high box, which is fine. Inside is a 32-page booklet that lists each track of each CD, nothing else, not a word about von Karajan -- well, OK, I guess, but I bet that people buying this bargain box may well not know much about him, so couldn't they have written a page? A paragraph?

Biggest problem: the CDs themselves aren't numbered sequentially 1-thru-38 throughout the box. Instead, they are color-coded. So there are 6 Beethoven discs, which are red and have 1 thru 6 on them, then they are followed by 3 green Brahms discs, which are numbered 1 thru 3, then they are followed by 9 aqua Bruckner discs, which are numbered 1 thru 9....

You get that? Composers are gathered alphabetically, and discs are numbered within a composer's set, but there's no way, looking at the booklet, to see that the Haydn symphonies 82, 83 and 87 show up on the 19th disc. Instead, you have to hunt through the colors and composers and -- this was clearly a case where a designer was allowed to design away, and no one at DG said "Wait a minute, is this the easiest way to help people sort through these 38 CDs?"

I won't even get into the wackiness of assigning different colors to different composers. Can't you just see the four-hour closed-door meetings at DG, where they fought over why Mozart gets purple while Schumann gets orange?

All of this is beside the point of the music itself, naturally. The music is fine, just fine.