In part 2 of my look back at the work of the still-controversial Herbert von Karajan, who died 25 years ago this week, I share an essay from Warner Classic’s new box set of music by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, J and R Strauss and Wagner recorded for EMI. A fascinating collection- some surprises, one complete disaster (guess which one!) and some stunning performances.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s not unusual to hear the emergence of the Historically Informed Performance movement described as a direct reaction against the \u201cexcesses\u201d of Karajan, and his generation\u2019s, interpretations of the Classical and early Romantic repertoire. To be sure, the sound world of Karajan\u2019s Philharmonia and Berlin Philharmonic is relatively far-removed from the leaner textures and tangier timbres of a fine period instrument ensemble, but in many ways, especially in his early career, Karajan\u2019s approach to Mozart, his contemporaries and successors, was not as old-fashioned and heavy-handed as many listeners to these recordings may expect.\u00a0 In these fairly early performances of several Mozart\u2019s 35th<\/sup> and 39th symphonies, made between 1952 and 1960, Karajan\u2019s tempi in most of Mozart\u2019s fast movements are surprisingly sprightly and the Philharmonia strings play with admirable clarity of articulation and lightness. Although the slow introductions are played quite broadly, the slow movements of both symphonies are played quite flowingly, with and elegant rhythmic lilt.<\/p>\n