Herbert von Karajan - A Legend at 100
Today marks the 100th birthday of arguably the 20th century’s greatest conductor (and perhaps one of its most controversial), Herbert von Karajan.
Click here to listen to a great bit from NPR on Karajan today.
Here is an excellent, yet exceptionally short and randomly-selected discography:
Wagner - Die Walküre, Act 3, EMI
R. Strauss - Also sprach Zarathustra, Deutsche Grammophon
J. Strauss - The Blue Danube Waltz, Deutsche Grammophon
Leoncavallo - Pagliacci, Deutsche Grammophon
Bartók - Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, EMI
Beethoven - All the Beethoven Symphonies from ‘63, but particularly Symphony Number 9, Deutsche Grammophon
Puccini - Tosca, Deutsche Grammophon (includes an amazing version of Qual Occhio Al Mondo arietta and Mia gelosa duet between José Carerras and Katia Ricciarelli)
Puccini - Turandot, Deutsche Grammophon
Also, I highly recommend this awesome video of Bizet’s Carmen, filmed at the 1967 Salzburg Festival.
