Customer Reviews

Philharmonia Promenade Concert

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Karajan was the main conductor of the Philharmonia during the 1950s, and as such he was expected by EMI to turn out light classics as well as Beethoven and Brahms. Fortunately, he undertook the chore as cheerfully as Leonard Bernstein, another master of pops music. It's like asking Wolfgang Puck to make cotton candy, but no one will complain at the delectable results.

I've owned all these performances in their budget releases on EMI and other spin-off lines, but here they're refurbished in very good sound. Some items, such as Chabrier's Espana, are in really sparkling sonics, not all that usual from EMI, and in every piece the orchestra plays with real panache--no slumming here. The selections come from all over Europe, and for every bit of fluff like von Suppe's Light Cavalry Over. (does anyone play this cartoon favorite anymore?) there's a masterpiece like the Roman Carnival Over. (which Karajan never recorded again--he wasn't much for Berlioz). As for the works he did re-record, these early Philharmonia versions are arguably the freshest. A must-listen for Karajan's fans and lovers of light classics both.

This CD includes some musical lollipops, which still love by all people. There are very famous and short orchestral works, as well as they are using today as an encore, showpiece of orchestras.

This recording of Karajan is the lastest with Philharmonia Orchestra. As you know, this London-based orchestra, which founded by Walter Legge, is still a succesful orchestra, today. And Karajan, conducted them at 1950s', when he is at middle ages, about 40s'. And then he conducted his Berlin Philharmoniker from 1960's.

These pieces are lovely played and recorded. Even so, these performances reveal that, Karajan can smile! Including Chabrier's flamboyant "Espana", J. Strauss' "Radetzky March". There is another beautiful piece that Karajan's favourite: Weinberger - Polka form "Svanda the Bagpiper". This is a colourful music. The CD has a romantic track too: Leoncavallo and his tragic Intermezzo of "Pagliacci". CD finishes with Borodin's famous and virtuosic Polovtsian Dances of Prince Igor.

This CD has an interesting photo: Karajan at the cockpit of a US plane! He was interested about pilot, too.

Highly recommended for any music lovers.

Herbert von Karajan has done it again! This time not with Beethoven or Mahler or any of the great serious composers that we love so well, but with a number of less dramatic masters with whom he is less frequently associated. He puts his baton to work with a smile in his heart and succeeds to entertain us no less than when he is in his most serious mood.

The venue here is a most refreshing break. It includes the Strausses - father and son, Chabrier and Suppe, to name just a few, The fare is mainly light-hearted, as my title suggests. The combination of Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra does magnificent wonders for the repertoire. The attention-getting fiery blasts in Chabrier's Espana are rivaled on record only by Paul Paray's superb recording of the same piece. The bass drum and cymbal blasts in Strauss' Unter Donner und Blitz Polka are sure to grab your attention. The Roman Carnival Overture, the Skater's Waltz, the Polovtsian Dances, literally ALL of the selections on this CD are to die for!

I couldn't recommend this CD more highly to anyone who needs an occasional break from the wonderful but heavy-handed musical fare to which we are all accustomed. A real treat for those Karajan fans who are unfamiliar with his lighter side. Get it now while it is available and the price is so right.