Beethoven - The Symphonies Boxset / Herbert von Karajan, Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, Jess Thomas, Walter Berry, Berlin Philharmoniker

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Toscaniniesque - Paul J. Fedwick - Oakville, Canada
Fascination with speeds haunts some conductors. But so far nobody seems to have surpassed Arturo Toscanini in that regard. During his life the Italian maestro use to criticize the German conductors for especially conducting Beethoven's symphonies too slow. Karajan seems to have heeded that critique, and it is said that during the first recording of the 9 symphonies in the early 1960s he kept on hand a copy of Toscanini's score. Of all the recordings I own (Klemperer, Wand, Zinmann, Abbado) Toscanini and Karajan are the only ones who took only a bit more than 64 min (Toscanini 64:43, Karajan 64:47) to go through the Ninth. But whereas somebody like Riccardo Muti who consciously tries to imitate Toscanini creates cacophonies rather than melodies, Karajan very much like Toscanini evince the most beautiful tones from Beethoven's masterpiece. Some like best Karajan's 1961-63 recording. In my personal view this second recording surpasses it (not just on account of the Ninth which took him then over 67 min.) but because of the distinct articulation of each tone. The same applies to the Third which is simply arresting. Watching Karajan, conducting with his eyes closed, makes one think of him as some kind of Greek deity who not only managed to enter the mind of the composer, but who also knows how to unravel the hidden beauty and richness contained in his music. Some reviewers have complained that this video focuses too much on the conductor. However true this might be (it didn't bother me), those who heed such criticism deprive themselves of one of the best ever recordings of Beethoven's unsurpassed Nine Symphonies. Highly recommended !