Top 10 Karajan recordings
Gramophone
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Herbert von Karajan was the first artist to be inducted into the Gramophone Hall of Fame. Here are 10 of his most outstanding recordings
No 1
Beethoven Symphonies Nos 1-9
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'Fine as the Philharmonia of the 1950s was, the Berlin Philharmonic of 1962 was its superior in every department. The refinements of its playing are too numerous to set out in detail, but how anyone could listen to these performances and then say that Karajan was 'bland' is beyond my comprehension. The brass playing throughout, and particularly in the Eroica funeral march, is just wonderful.'
No 2
Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Sols; Staatskapelle Dresden / Karajan
'I don't recall any other co-operation between Karajan and this orchestra, but they obviously established a quick rapport that produced results of the most positive kind: string playing of the utmost warmth and eloquence, wind and brass solos of tender beauty. All were caught in ideal sound in that paragon of a 'studio', the Lukas Kirche in Dresden.'
No 3
Strauss Four Last Songs
Janowitz sop Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'Three celebrated Karajan recordings of...' Read review
No 4
Strauss Salome
Sols; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'Karajan’s reading of this seminal work has always been noted for its glorious sensuousness...' Read review
No 5
Schoenberg Pelleas und Melisande
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'For all its length, this is a tightly-argued score, and Karajan, taking...' Read review
No 6
Prokofiev Symphony No 5
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'Karajan’s 1968 Prokofiev Fifth is a great...' Read review
No 7
New Year's Concert, 1987
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'A splendid and indispensable issue for all admirers of Karajan and Johann...' Read review
No 8
Strauss Der Rosenkavalier
Sols; Philharmonia Chorus and Orch / Karajan
'A landmark in the history of the gramophone, Karajan’s 1956 EMI recording of...' Read review
No 9
Verdi Falstaff
Sols; Philharmonia Chorus and Orch / Herbert von Karajan
'After one has grown up with a much-loved recording, no other ever seems to match it. That is the...' Read review
No 10
Wagner Parsifal
Sols; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan
'Great pains have evidently been taken about balance, and indeed about the acoustic...' Read review
You can vote for the artists and music industry figures you think should join Herbert von Karajan in the Gramophone Hall of Fame here.
