Karajan: The Positives and Negatives

[beethoven2]

Hi all. So I was recently thinking about conductors and their interpretation. Every conductor has his our her own specialty. For example, Bernstein is particularly known for his performances of Mahler, and Daniel Barenboim focuses on conveying the idea of structure in a piece of music. Karajan, although one of the best conductors in history, also had his positives and negatives. I personally love his late Romantic interpretations, and composers such as Haydn, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, etc.

The one thing I find criticized a lot by other classical music fans is his Beethoven. They say that Karajan's Beethoven is "watered down", "sloppy", and even "boring". (Note my use of quotes). Personally, I think that his Beethoven is very good, but maybe not as good as his Tchaikovsky or Mahler. Any yes, I have to admit that a few conductors have better Beethoven cycles. However, it is an exaggeration to say that they are 'sloppy' or 'boring.

I want to try an experiment. Here are links to to recordings on the same piece, one of my favorites, Beethoven Symphony No. 7. The first is the recording by Karajan. The second is by a renowned Beethoven interpreter, Carlos Kleiber. I enjoy both recordings, but I have to say that I find Kleiber's a tad better. But that's just my opinion. Listen and see what you think.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1qAWcd4rr0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8eigkwmMEo

I think that the part where Kleiber really differs from Karajan is during the introduction and the development section of the first movement.

After this post, don't look down upon me. ;D I really do enjoy Karajan. Why else would I be a part of this forum?

[Rosy]

Hello Beethoven2!

Also I like to make comparisons between interpreters, not to estabilish who is the best but to appreciate the possible differences in interpretation. I like very much Carlos Kleiber as I like Lenny Bernstein and many other great conductors. I'm a great admirer of Riccardo Muti and I try to attend his performances. I'm convenced that it's so for other members of the Forum , namely that they appreciate other conductors. It's deeply true that each interpreter give the best of himself with some Authors that others. For example, Karajan had some perplexity in conducting George Gershwin in his piece "Rapsodia in blu", in fact he wanted Alexis Weissenberg as pianist, because he gave him security. Despite this the Berliner not felt at ease. So-called Karajan's repertoire was certainly incredibly vast, but not infinite! Kleiber loved Karajan so visceral; when Karajan died, every year Kleiber went to the cimetery and laid a rose on his grave.
Beethoven's Symphony N° 7? For me, Herbert von Karajan

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Ciao
Rosy

[Rosy]

....paraphrasing an effective observation, taken from an article by a known italian critic: .."Karajan is a different thing!" ,stating so that any comparison is unnecessary!

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Rosy

[Catalin N. R.]

Honestly, I find that Karajan sounds better. More accurate phrasing... more Beethovenian interpretation...
But, as Rosy stated, such comparisons with the Maestro seem to be inopportune.

Catalin