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Herbert von
Karajan: New Year’s Eve Concert 1983 ROSSINI
Overture: Wilhelm Tell [12.16] SMETANADie Moldau [12.47] SIBELIUSValse Triste Op.44 [6.59] Josef STRAUSSDelirien Waltz Op.212 [9.33] Johann STRAUSS
II Overture: Der Zigeunerbaron
[9.23]
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von
Karajan
Director: Humphrey Burton
rec. Philharmonie, Berlin, 31 December 1983
PAL 4:3; Dolby digital
SONY CLASSICAL
DVD 88697296069 [50:58]
Apart from one
occasion when the Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra secured Karajan for their
annual New Year’s Day concert, Karajan
regularly conducted the one in Berlin
the previous evening. Here we see
him some five and a half years before
his death, already crippled with
arthritis, hands gnarled, arms stiffly
unyielding and inexpressive. It’s
hard to know quite what he is contributing
to the proceedings once the programme
had been rehearsed, other than to
be feted by his adoring public,
and stop and start each work. After
half an hour it becomes a dull experience,
predictable cross-fades and cuts,
limited angles, blurred exits and
entries between the works. Clearly
under strict instructions not to
show him moving slowly and painfully,
it becomes a limited ritual on the
director’s part. The orchestra play
superbly, the cellos excel in particular
after their opening foray into Rossini,
Smetana is given an idiomatically
stylish reading, Sibelius is agonised
over by Karajan, the two family
Strauss works are full of subtle
rubato and fine solo wind playing.
The programme gives little opportunity
for the brass to be unleashed, strange
given that there are plenty of them
including quadruple trumpets. Karajan
is eminently unwatchable as he conducts
with his eyes closed, chin on chest
and aggressively fly-swatting technique,
strange because that is precisely
what he wanted us to do after he
had gone, watch him at work. It’s
much better to listen.
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