Orpheus in the Underworld & Sym Fantastique

[Dave]

Long time... no post. I need to stop doing that.

Anyway, my particular question this time concerns the Offenbach opera. A CD I have had for quite a long time is one of Karajan's 80s recordings of Offenbach overtures. Very clean, immaculate and beautiful recordings. However, I've just heard this on YouTube, and it is also labelled as a Karajan recording:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaS4hvsbLzI

It's much faster, madder, and more dangerous and, well... fun, than my recording. Is this actually a Karajan recording; did he record it twice or something?

On a slightly related note (in terms of Frenchiness, I suppose) - just how many times did he record the Symphonie Fantastique, and which one is the best? I think there's both a Paris Symphonie and a Berlin Phil version out there, but know precious little about either. What I do know is that, again on YouTube, there's a Paris version that knocks socks all over the place.

[charlesb]

Karajan recorded the Orpheus in the Underworld overture three times. There is the BPO recording you already have, plus a mono recording (1955) and a stereo recording (1960) with the Philharmonia. The 1960 recording is probably the best.

In addition, the "Gaite Parisienne" ballet includes the can-can also used in the Overture. He recorded this twice, with the Philharmonia in 1958 and the BPO in 1971. I haven't had a chance to check the You Tube clip, but if it sounds "madder", it may be the version from Gaite Parisienne.

Karajan recorded the Symphonie Fantastique 4 times, with the Philharmonia in 1954, the BPO in 1964 and 1974 and the Orchestre de Paris in 1971. The OdP DVD is still available from Amazon.co.uk. Personally, I prefer the 1974 BPO recording.

(He also made a video recording in 1980 with the BPO. It is not clear if this is a Unitel or a Telemondial recording, which may explain why it has never been released on DVD).

A 1966 live recording of the Symphonie Fantastique was also released by the Natise CD label about 20 years ago.

[charlesb]

I have now had a chance to listen to the You Tube excerpt. it is the 1960 Philharmonia recording. If you have the "complete" EMI recordings box, it is on CD 45. (The box is not quite complete actually, I must start a thread about that sometime.)

Alternatively, if you check Amazon.co.uk , it is on a CD called "Philharmonia Promenade Concert" that Amazon's partners are selling at about £6

[Dave]

Charles, that's a magestic response. Thank you very much indeed. I was slightly befuddled, not least because I actually have the '71 Gaite Parisienne - well, hightlights of it - and didn't think it was from that, either. You've put my mind at rest. Thanks again.