Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Wagner / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Herbert von Karajan [Conductor] Berliner Philharmoniker [Orchestra] (Artist), Richard [Composer], Wagner, Richard [Composer] Strauss (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Richard [Composer], Wagner, Richard [Composer] Strauss
• Audio CD (October 21, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GX6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,093 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Strauss, R.: Ein Heldenleben / Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll by Berliner Philharmoniker [Orchestra], Herbert von Karajan [Conductor]

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable disc for admirers of Karajan's Strauss, August 24, 2003

By 

JPH "JPH" (Crawley) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Wagner / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Audio CD)

With due respect to the criticisms that the quality of this 1959 performance is somewhat diminished because the Berlin Philharmonic lacked the opulent sonority they later developed under Karajan, I for one, think the sound of the Berliners as captured here is superb and a complement to their last, and also superb, digital recording with Karajan. The BPO's virtuosity and passion were as present in 1959 as they are 30 years later. It just happens that the sound textures of their strings metamorphosed through continued collaboration with Karajan. If you admire Karajan's latter disc, this 1959 performance is a must-have in your Richard Strauss collection. Appreciated together, they document the beginning and end of a great orchestra's association with a great conductor.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Taste Of What Was In Store For Karajan And The BPO, December 28, 2002

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Wagner / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Audio CD)

Admittedly this is far from Karajan's best recording of a Strauss tone poem, yet this 1959 account of "Ein Heldenleben" is spellbinding in its own right with a fine violin solo from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's concertmaster, Michel Schwalbe. I agree with a previous reviewer who noted how the orchestra plays without the cohesion and opulence of sound one hears in the great 1960's and 1970's Deutsche Grammophon recordings. I suppose this merits inclusion as part of Deutsche Grammophon's The Originals series since this was Karajan's very first recording for the label. It is coupled with a splendid performance of Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll" from the 1970's. Fans of both Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic will not be disappointed with this CD.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At the top of Karajan, October 22, 2005

By 

Maria Cira Llamosas "Carlos Tagle" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Wagner / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Audio CD)

This is one of the greatest versions of R. Strauss's Heldenleben I`ve ever heard together to the one with Fritz Reiner in Living Stereo. Karajan transports you into the world of the hero with such subtleness that is impossible to avoid good sensations. I can't say more words about this... just listen and close your eyes.