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Post by darkehmen on Jan 16, 2008 21:06:55 GMT 1
So while I prefer the Telemondial to the Unitel films, I was intrigued to discover in the videographies both on this site and in Robinson's book the existence of a number of Karajan films that I never knew about before. Excepting the Japanese and Paris concert films (which I'm sure are difficult to get), I'm curious to know if anyone has any more information about the following "missing" films (missing at least in North America), and whether, or where, they may have been released. Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel (1963) Although extracts from this film appear the documentary Maestro, Maestro, does anyone know if the complete rehearsal has ever been made available on video? Brahms, Symphony No 3 BPO (1963) Predating by several years the Unitel Brahms set, does anyone know anything more about this film? It's not listed as a Japanese concert. Mozart, Coronation Mass/Verdi, Te Deum (1967) I believe this has been discussed in the "Items Wanted" section of the site. And what's this? A Verdi Te Deum? Wouldn't that be the only Karajan recording of this work? How intriguing. Mozart, Divertimento No 17 BPO (1967) Mozart, Concerto for 3 Pianos Orchestre de Paris (1971) Again, wouldn't this be the only Karajan recordnig of this work? Priceless, if it could be found. Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No 1 BPO (Weissenberg) (1973) How interesting to learn that this film was remade six years after the Ake Falk film. And here, we have a lead. Robinson's book states that this film (the '73) was released on Laserdisc in Japan, and gives the product listing as VHM-68052. Does anyone know which company VHM might be? I don't believe I've ever heard of them. Rossini, William Tell Overture BPO (1975) Again, Robinson's book gives us a lead, stating that this Unitel film was released on Laserdisc in Japan, by the same company that released the '73 Tchaikovsky Piano Concert. Product listing: VHM-68107. Rather surprising that the Tchaikovsky and the Rossini would be released on separate Laserdiscs. I can't imagine the Rossini being a stand-alone item. Perhaps it was coupled with other works. Wagner, Die Meistersinger Overture BPO (1975) Egad! It's unbelieveable that DG never released this on a Laserdisc, yet Robinson specifically states "unreleased" in his listing. How I would love to see this... Beethoven, Violin Concerto European Youth Orchestra (Mutter) (1980) Wonderful to learn that this was released on Laserdisc, by Toshiba. Robinson gives the product number as TOLW 3533, and I even found a trace of it online, here. Stravinsky, Apollon musagete BPO (1980) And finally, Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique BPO (1980) I love the 1971 film with the Orchestre de Paris, available on EMI, but would be even more eager to see this production. I believe that everything else (apart from the Japanese and Paris concerts) has been released at some point on LD, DVD, or both. I'm just curious if anyone knows of any sources for the above films. |
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john
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Post by john on Jan 18, 2008 0:32:26 GMT 1
Darkhemen
Many HVK fans will have have bits of information about various 'missing' video performances.
Over the years I have managed to collect a number of rare and hard to find films, many of these were shown on television around the world and recorded on VHS and then transferred by the owners to DVD.
The Unitel Tschaikowsky Piano concerto No1 was on Video at some point, as was the William Tell Overture, also from that period was a Weber Der Freichutz Overture.
The 1967 Rome Mozart Requiem with the Verdi Te- Deum was televised as was the 1978 Paris Concert, this runs to nearly 3 hours with the interviews but the dialogue is in french, no good to me i'm afraid.
For those who do not know, there were TV broadcasts of Beethoven Violin Concerto with Mutter and The European Youth Orchestra 'live' from Salzburg 12/8/80 plus extensive rehearsal footage, also the Tannhauser Overture 'live' Salzburg 15/8/87 and a film (source unknown) called The Making of an Opera Die Walkure, Karajan seen in rehearsal and some performance clips from 1967.
There is also the 1977 'live' Beethoven 9th from Berlin with Kollo/Baltsa etc. which did appear on Laserdisc but as yet not on DVD.
I have always wondered why the DVD of the new years eve Berlin concert 1985 did not include the Strauss 'Spharenklange' which was part of the original concert, does anyone know why?
On a separate note, one thing that I really object to is the recording companies leaving things out of 'live' performances, I am refering to the HVK speech at the 1987 Vienna New Year Concert and his mistake in starting to conduct the Blue Danube before it was due.
Also, in the 1984 Osaka concert (DVD not available in Europe) HVK actually stopped the Don Juan after a few bars and re-starts it. These things actually happened, they were in the of the performance and part of History but do not appear on the DVDs.
Does anyone else feel the same or have any comments on this?
With regard to the other titles you mention I have no info on these.
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Post by darkehmen on Jan 18, 2008 0:55:46 GMT 1
The Unitel Tschaikowsky Piano concerto No1 was on Video at some point, as was the William Tell Overture, also from that period was a Weber Der Freichutz Overture. See, that's very interesting. I knew that the '67 Tschaikowsky Piano concerto No1 was on video (I have that on the DG laserdisc), but I never knew that the '73 remake or the Rossini overture were released. The Weber Der Freichutz Overture did appear on a widely-released DG laserdisc, along with a host of orchestral shorts. It's one of my favourite of DG's Unitel laserdisc releases. The 1967 Rome Mozart Requiem with the Verdi Te- Deum was televised as was the 1978 Paris Concert, this runs to nearly 3 hours with the interviews but the dialogue is in french, no good to me i'm afraid. *Sigh* How nice it would be to see these. Someone should make them available -- perhaps that "Classical Music Rarities" company, if not one of the labels themselves. For those who do not know, there were TV broadcasts of Beethoven Violin Concerto with Mutter and The European Youth Orchestra 'live' from Salzburg 12/8/80 plus extensive rehearsal footage. Yes, that must be the one I noted above, released by Toshiba on laserdisc. I've been searching, but I bet that will be hard to obtain. and a film (source unknown) called The Making of an Opera Die Walkure, Karajan seen in rehearsal and some performance clips from 1967. Was that perhaps produced by the BBC? That too would be wonderful to see, but the BBC is notorious for having destroyed many of its old tapes in the days before home video. There is also the 1977 'live' Beethoven 9th from Berlin with Kollo/Baltsa etc. which did appear on Laserdisc but as yet not on DVD. Yes, that's relatively easy to get, by comparison to the above-noted rarities. I actually prefer the older 9th that DG released, for the first time, in the new DVD set. It helped justify the re-purchase of the Unitel series on DVD. one thing that I really object to is the recording companies leaving things out of 'live' performances, I both agree and disagree. I definitely wish the releases would never cut out actual pieces of music, like the Sphaerenklaenge example you give, or the speech. But when it comes to slip-ups, I don't know, I actually think it's okay to remove those. I like the idea of a polished concert performance, and the flubs would be distracting, and "break the spell," as it were. |
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Post by darkehmen on Jan 18, 2008 9:16:32 GMT 1
Here's a little update on this. It was with considerable pleasure that I found the product page for the Karajan in Concert 2DVD set that is being released by DG in March (link here). Notice what the list includes: Rossini? So it looks like we'll be getting the Unitel Wilhelm Tell overture after all. How delightful. It's great to see DG finding some never-before-released works, and not merely duplicating their old laserdisc issues. Now, the real question is, will the Wagner merely comprise the Tannhauser overture as before, or will the Die Meistersinger overture be included as well? Considering this is a 2DVD set, it certainly could be there. One can only hope... |
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Post by ~Linda~ on Jan 24, 2008 16:28:47 GMT 1
Also, in the 1984 Osaka concert (DVD not available in Europe) HVK actually stopped the Don Juan after a few bars and re-starts it. I have just received the 1984 Osaka concert DVD from Japan and, knowing about the restart, I took a screen shot from the beginning of "Don Juan". I think that the humorous look on Karajan's face says it all! |
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Post by darkehmen on Jan 25, 2008 20:22:28 GMT 1
I see that DG now offers a track list of the items in this compilation, and there's good news and bad news: The good news -- the 1975 William Tell overture will be included. I look forward to seeing this. The bad news -- no 1975 Die Mesitersinger overture, which simply astonishes me. Of all of the films to release, I would think that this one would be at the top of any list, especially since Karajan never re-filmed it form Telemondial. Will we have to wait for a 125th birthday celebration to see it?  |
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Post by ~Linda~ on Jan 25, 2008 20:38:30 GMT 1
There is also the 1977 'live' Beethoven 9th from Berlin with Kollo/Baltsa etc. which did appear on Laserdisc but as yet not on DVD. John, I have just been informed by a website visitor that the 1977 Karajan Beethoven Ninth is reportedly being released on DVD by Euroarts on 20 March. |
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Post by hgmarch on Jan 27, 2008 23:45:15 GMT 1
I have the impression that many recordings (some of them new) are being released in DVD for the celebration of HVK birthday anniversary and this will be great. I am just wondering about all the Wagner operas which were presented at the Easter Festival ? I have seen them all and I can tell you that I cannot see any of them again without being disappointed !
I believe the reason is that, now, the stage director is deciding how the opera should be interpreted while (at least for Wagner Operas) HVK was at the same time Musical and Stage director and he was not trying to "interpret" Wagner messages.
As far as I know, only Rheingold is available in video and nothing else. I had the impression that, at the Easter festival, each Premiere was broadcasted on ORF and, there should be some video tapes about these performances. I have the audio recordings of these performances which are, in my mind, better than the "official release" by DG. But we are missing a great deal not being able to SEE these performances because I am convinced that they have never been better presented (even in Bayreuth).
Also, since I just came back from Vienna (attending the Ball der Wiener Philarmoniker ), I can mention that we got as a present, a book on HVK by Erich LESSING (many interesting "private" photos) published for the Ball.
I will try in an other part of the Forum to give some of my souvenirs of HVK performances ...but it will take a while since I first discovered him in 1957 in Paris conducting the Wiener Symphoniker and ended-up being a member of the Easter festival, attending all the performances (except when I was not in Europe in 71/72). I consider myself as very lucky !
Henri
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Post by ~Linda~ on Feb 13, 2008 11:15:47 GMT 1
There is also the 1977 'live' Beethoven 9th from Berlin with Kollo/Baltsa etc. which did appear on Laserdisc but as yet not on DVD. John, I have just been informed by a website visitor that the 1977 Karajan Beethoven Ninth is reportedly being released on DVD by Euroarts on 20 March. Another visitor to the website has just informed me that there is a trailer of this film at the following link: www.euroarts.com/artikel/dvd/?id=007240_karajan_conducts_beethovens_9th_symphony_nicht |
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roger
New Member
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Post by roger on May 16, 2008 17:38:20 GMT 1
Hi everybody. Although I've been listening to Karajan on records for years - my first Beethoven 9th was on 78 rpm discs! - I've only recently seen him on video. First on You Tube. Then the new biography. Now KARAJAN IN CONCERT. Some reviewers have been a little sniffy about Karajan's Unitel recordings in the past, but this selection is marvellous. Obviously the playing and sound quality is excellent.
But I was astonished at the excellence of the pictures. If you look at recordings from normal TV programmes in the 70s - news, plays, comedies etc - they frequently look the worse for wear. But these music recordings look as if they were made yesterday. The colours are vibrant, the lighting beautiful. Notice how subtle it is. Music by Debussy is filmed in lower key lighting and has a gentle green cast, adding to the mood of the music.
Karajan believed in close-ups. How right he was! I remember how boring live concerts from the London proms used to look with all those wide-angle shots. Karajan was years ahead of many people in TV when it came to filming music. He wanted to take viewers inside the orchestra so they could see more than people sitting in a fixed position in a concert hall. Well, he certainly succeeded with these Unitel recordings. Just look at the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto. Karajan believed the pictures must look beautiful, as well as the sound. I'm intrigued to see that some of you argue that his later videos for Telemondial are even better. Obviously, I've got to look forward to! Best wishes from Roger
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Rosy
Senior Member
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Post by Rosy on May 17, 2008 11:17:49 GMT 1
Dear Roger,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to add something about the beautiful double DVD "Karajan in Concert"; I already mentioned it in: "General", thread: "Mahler rehearsal film", as a reply to jorgelundmark's post; however, I like to write the opinion that I read in the weekly magazine Io Donna", which is combined with the newspaper Il Corriere della Sera. The comment is by Enrico Girardi, an expert by music; I'm writing it even in the original language because, in a nutshell, Girardi captures the essence of Karajan.
Herbert von Karajan in Concert, Musiche di Autori vari, Berliner Philharmoniker, 2 DVD, DG. : "C'e` anche un film non troppo agiografico sul gigantesco interprete di Salisburgo.Ma quel che lascia esterefatti e` la stratosferica qualita` delle esecuzioni. Altissima non solo in Wagner, Weber e Beethoven; ma anche in Rachmaninov, Debussy, Ravel e un Rossini da togliere il fiato, che fa di Karajan il precursore di uno stile esecutivo che e` diventato prassi. Anticipatore."
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My bad translation: Herbert von Karajan in Concert, Music by various Authors, Berliner Philharmoniker, 2 DVDs, DG.: There is also a film not too agiografico* on gigantic interpreter of Salzburg; but what leaves much amazed, is the stratospheric quality of his executions. Peak in Wagner, Weber e Beethoven, but also in Rachmaninov, Debussy, Ravel and a Rossini to take your breath away, which makes Karajan the precursor of an executive style that is becoming practise. Karajan are jumping ahead.
*= It does not tend to exalt the figure of Maestro
P.S. I recommend this DVD!
Rosy
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roger
New Member
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Post by roger on May 17, 2008 16:26:34 GMT 1
Alas, I never had the opportunity to see and hear Karajan live in concert. But last night I thought, 'It doesn't matter.' I can see and hear him on video. What's more, I can see far more than I ever would in the concert hall. Indeed, it will soon be possible for devotees to see far more Karajan performances than most people were able to when he was alive - and in optimum conditions.
That great British conductor, Adrian Boult, recalled rehearsing a violin concerto with Yehudi Menuhin. It was magic. But came the public performance and the music died. These things happen when you're dealing with creative people. Sometimes the magic fails. The amazing thing is how frequently Karajan made the magic work. If you believe some critics Karajan was the only musician to make mistakes, while everyone else was perfect! Artists need to experiment. It's not a crime to fail. People learn from their mistakes. Vaughan Williams pointed out that some composers are remembered for only one piece of music. Yet they needed to write masses of inferior music to be able to produce that one magic piece. The trouble with some critics is that they have little understanding of the creative process. They seem to think everything has to be perfect, or the artist is rubbish. Well, I hope they start examining Karajan's recordings again. Unless they're cloth-eared they'll be in for an enjoyable experience.
Incidentally, is the Tchaikovsky Pianoi Concerto, which Karajan conducted with Evgeny Kissin, available on DVD? It seems to have vanished from Amazon etc here in the UK. Perhaps it's sold out and they're awaiting new supplies. Hope so.
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roger
New Member
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Post by roger on May 17, 2008 16:33:21 GMT 1
Another point! I've only seen black and white photos of the Philharmonie in Berlin. These make the hall look vast, cold and too modern. But in the videos it looks small and intimate- cosy even - a perfect place to make music. And to make films. The atmosphere is good in these videos.
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Post by ~Linda~ on May 17, 2008 18:23:05 GMT 1
Incidentally, is the Tchaikovsky Pianoi Concerto, which Karajan conducted with Evgeny Kissin, available on DVD? It seems to have vanished from Amazon etc here in the UK. Perhaps it's sold out and they're awaiting new supplies. Hope so. Hello Roger Welcome to the Forum! If you look at the Marketplace on Amazon UK you will see that you can purchase this DVD from various US suppliers: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00001AQZD/ref=dp_olp_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1211044799&sr=1-4I have used Caiman in the past and have had no problems. Linda |
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Post by halcover1 on May 17, 2008 19:19:38 GMT 1
The 1977 (Euro Arts-UNITEL 2072408) is alredy available in shops. Interesting to compare with the others availables from UNITEL (DG) and TELEMONDIAL (Sony). Regards
halcover1
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