Herbert von Karajan - A Tribute in Pictures

[thitch]

This is an excellent book, and I did have one many years ago that I purchased as a package with the Tchaikovsky LP in 1983. Unfortunately, it was lost among many other books in a move over a dozen years ago - and I have never been able to find one since, used, online or anywhere. Let me know if anyone has a lead on where another may be had - I'm assuming the fact that I purchased my original with the record may have something to do with it being such a rarity.

Tim.

[~Linda~]

Hello Tim

There is a copy on Ebay at the moment:

tinyurl.com/cgugfr

As you will see this is the 1983 Deutsche Grammophon book complete with LP.

As a matter of interest the copy I own is the Westermann edition published in 1984

Best wishes

Linda

[lee]

Hi Alexander

Really pleased that you liked this book - I remember buying my own copy shortly after it was released as a schoolboy with hard earned pocket and paper-round money; and yes, it came with an LP (betraying my age slightly !), the digital Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite and Romeo and Juliet Overture, the latter in my opinion, one of the finest versions ever recorded. In those long forgotten days, classical music was treated seriously by Recording Companies, something that can be told from the lavish and careful presentation of this Karajan book, which indeed came in its own protective box, richly decorated and housing the LP, which in turn was in a gold gatefolded sleeve. Of course, missing are photographs from the final years but what is there, as you say, is very fine.

With best regards, Lee

[lee]

Hi Alexander

No, you understood me perfectly correctly and indeed, I couldn't agree more with your comments on the dedication and professionalism of the Japanese people when it comes to the quality of classical music production in that country compared to the West. When you were searching for the Mozart Requiem did you notice some other recordings that are currently unavailable outside of Japan ? For example, all those Decca/VPO recordings are available singly....

It's been a while since I've heard the 1966 Romeo - I'm giving it a spin as I'm typing this. I agree with you about the early digital glare on the later 1982 recording that doesn't flatter the violins at all but I feel that Karajan's interpretation on the latter performance is more fully integrated and the percussion more present than the earlier one. I also find the coda quite devastating in its impact in the later performance - as you say elsewhere, it all points to what could have been a quite magnificent Manfred Symphony...

Best regards and hope you enjoy the Mozart,

Lee

[john]

Lee

Totally agree, this version of the Romeo leaves me drained, apart from the HVK Bruckner 5th I've never heard such sheer controlled power of an orchestra.

I also purchased the fabulous box and book when it first came out, pure indulgence.

John

[lee]

Hi Alexander and John

By strange chance, this Saturday's Record Review on BBC Radio 3 is a comparative survey on Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. May be worth a listen.

Best regards, Lee

[Rosy]

About the beautiful book Herbert von Karajan - A Tribute in Pictures, I must just add that it's also written in italian!

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Rosy