The relatively unknown conductor Herbert von Karajan made his debut at the Berliner Staatsoper, September 1938 with Beethoven’s opera Fidelio, followed a couple of weeks later by Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. In the “BZ am Mittag" newspaper could be read that a new miracle was born;
“Das Wunder Karajan”. It was the (scripted) start of a career, which would make this conductor almost synonymous with the word “classical music” in the 1960’s and 1970’s. After the Berlin concerts Karajan signed a contract with the Deutsche Gramophon label, which would last, with a short EMI period in-between until his death in 1988.
Recently, Deutsche Grammophon re-issued his early recordings for the Yellow Label on a six CD box, with performances from Karajan’s 78RPM era, in fine remasterings. Orchestras varying from the Berliner Staatskapelle, Philharmoniker, Rai orchestra and even Concertgebouworchestra.
As a start however, a surprise; it’s a live recording captured on early experimental reel to reel tape of Bruckner’s 8th symphony, where the last movement was recorded in… Stereo!
More about this live recording from 1944 can be read at:
- Anton Bruckner (1824 - 1896)
Symphony no 8 in c minor
IV. Finale. Feierlich, Nicht Schnell -
Preussische Staatskapelle/Herbert Von Karajan
September 1944, live, Stereo recording.
- Div. composers and orchestra’s 1938-1944
complete list of words and recording dates:
