HERBERT VON KARAJAN: 1938-1960 Collection (117 CDS)

The miracle Herbert von Karajan: this box of 117 CDs provides a comprehensive documentation of his artistic achievement beginning with the spectacular arrival in Berlin of the young conductor from the provinces in 1938, through the difficult period of wartime and its aftermath up until recordings produced in 1960 that made him undoubtedly the No. 1 among conductors in Europe and worldwide. During this time the name of Herbert von Karajan was entirely synonnymous with classical music and his appearances were society and artistic events. He celebrated triumphs in Berlin, Vienna, London, Bayreuth, Milan and Lucerne. He held a number of key positions in music, until then never considered possible: conductor in chief of the Berlin Philharmonic, Musical Director of the Vienna State Opera, and of La Scala, Milan. His recordings on disc were sensational and established his reputation as the commercially most successful classical artist of his day. His records also set new artistic standards, even as 78s, then as mono recordings on 30cm discs and more than ever when he became the artist of the stereo age. Arguably the most famous conductor of the time, he attracted the greatest singers and best-known soloists: artists such a Maria Callas, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Christa Ludwig, Birgit Nilsson, Nicolai Gedda, Giuseppe di Stefano, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Glenn Gould, Wilhelm Kempff, Dinu Lipatti etc. are immortalised on his records and documented in this series. The variety of his repertoire is still considered remarkable. His recordings range from Bach to Stravinsky, from Grand Opera to gems of light classics, from the great symphonies and concertos to the most significant testaments of sacred music. Where recordings of classical music are concerned Herbert von Karajan was always, and still is, the hallmark of excellence.

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Messe h-Moll / Mass in B minor

BÉLA BARTÓK Konzert für Orchester / Concerto for Orchestra Musik für Saiteninstrumente, Schlagzeug und Celesta / Music for String Instruments, Percussion and Celeste Klavierkonzert Nr. 3 / Piano Concerto No. 3

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN Symphonien Nr. 1-9 / Symphonies Nos. 1-9 Klavierkonzerte Nr. 3-5 / Piano Concertos Nos. 3-5 Violinkonzert / Violin Concerto Fidelio Missa Solemnis

HECTOR BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

GEORGES BIZET Carmen

JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphonien Nr. 1-4 / Symphonies Nos. 1-4 Klavierkonzert Nr. 2 / Piano Concerto No. 2 Ein Deutsches Requiem / A German Requiem

ANTON BRUCKNER Symphonien Nr. 5, 8 / Symphonies Nos. 5, 8

CLAUDE DEBUSSY La Mer Pelléas et Mélisande

GAETANO DONIZETTI Lucia di Lammermoor

ANTONÍN DVORÁK Symphonie Nr. 9 / Symphony No. 9

CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK Orfeo ed Euridice

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Hänsel und Gretel / Hansel and Gretel

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Symphonien Nr. 29, 33, 35, 38-41 / Symphonies Nos. 29, 33, 35, 38-41 Eine kleine Nachtmusik / A Little Night Music Klarinettenkonzert / Clarinet Concerto Hornkonzerte Nr. 1-4 / Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 Klavierkonzerte Nr. 20, 21, 23, 24 / Piano Concertos Nos. 21, 23, 24 Die Zauberflöte / The Magic Flute Le nozze di Figaro Così fan tutte Requiem

GIACOMO PUCCINI Madama Butterfly

FRANZ SCHUBERT Symphonien Nr. 5, 8, 9 / Symphonies Nos. 5, 8, 9

ROBERT SCHUMANN Symphonie Nr. 4 / Symphony No. 4 Klavierkonzert / Piano Concerto

JEAN SIBELIUS Symphonien Nr. 2, 4-7 / Symphonies Nos. 2, 4-7 Finlandia, Valse triste, Tapiola

RICHARD STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra / Thus Spake Zarathustra Ein Heldenleben Don Juan Till Eulenspiegel Tod und Verklärung / Death and Transfiguration Vier letzte Lieder Der Rosenkavalier Ariadne auf Naxos

JOHANN STRAUSS II Die Fledermaus / The Bat Peter Tschaikowsky Symphonien Nr. 4-6 / Symphonies Nos. 4-6 Der Nussknacker, Schwanensee, Dornröschen / The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty

GIUSEPPE VERDI Aida Don Carlo Il Trovatore Falstaff Missa