Herbert von Karajan

“The Vienna Philharmonic features on what was Karajan's last recording, an idiomatic account of Bruckner's Seventh Symphony, lighter and more classical in feel than either of his two Berlin recordings yet loftier, too. As for the Original-image bit-processing you need go no further than the first fluttered violin tremolando and the cellos' rapt entry in the third bar to realise how ravishingly 'present' the performance is in this reprocessing. Or go to the end of the symphony and hear how the great E major peroration is even more transparent than before, the octave drop of bass trombone and bass tuba 13 bars from home the kind of delightfully euphoric detail that in 1989 only the more assiduous score-reader would have been conscious of hearing. This remastered Seventh is definitely pure gold.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Very impressive indeed. Somehow one feels that one could stretch out and touch the players, so vivid is the sound here. In the Peer Gynt movements, there's much greater range and separation.
Peer Gynt is most beautifully done. At times you might think the wind could have been a shade more distant, particularly in the 'By the seashore' movement but there's no want of atmosphere here – quite the contrary! Not to put too fine a point on it, this is a marvellous recording. In the Holberg Suite, the sound has marvellous clarity and definition as well as exemplary range. For some tastes it may be a little too sophisticated but one's admiration for it remains undimmed. The playing throughout is beautifully cultured and there's wonderful lightness and delicacy.
The present issue is Karajan's third account of 'The Swan of Tuonela' and it's regrettable that he never committed to disc the four Legends in their entirety. It's as powerful and atmospheric an account as ever recorded, and the remaining two pieces, 'Valse triste' and Finlandia, reinforce the feeling that this partnership has never been equalled. The stirring account of Finlandia is incredibly wide-ranging – the orchestral playing is really in a class of its own.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“The Alpensinfonie is no longer a rarity on disc, but there are still grounds for preferring the famous Karajan version to subsequent digital rivals, especially in this successful remastering. Karajan's sureness of line is always impressive in Strauss and, while the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra isn't at its immaculate best, some playing is magnificent here.
The sound remains rather fierce, but several passages have been substantially remixed, and the effect is certainly less constricted overall.
Perhaps it doesn't matter that the horn theme that floats in with the (still blinding) 'Sonnenaufgang' isn't quite aligned with the strings.
More worrying is the subtle transformation of the opening phrase of 'Der Ansteig': whereas we used to experience it 'from the bottom up' with the balance favouring the basses, we hear more cellos now – and most of them fluff the B flat! That said, the breadth and majesty of Karajan's conception is indisputable.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“The playing of the Berlin Philharmonic on both sets is as glorious as ever; its virtuosity can be taken for granted along with its sumptuous tonal refinement, and in Strauss Karajan has no peer.
As a recording the 1983 disc is very good indeed.
The famous opening has greater intensity in the 1973 version, and you may prefer its marginally greater warmth and glow of the strings.
The DG engineers adopt a slightly closer balance on this newcomer, which has greater range and impressive detail, particularly in the bass. Both Don Juans are fine performances, too.
To sum up, Karajan's classic 1973 account holds sway.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Ricciarelli is a far more vulnerable figure than one expects of the icy princess, and the very fact that the part strains her beyond reasonable vocal limits adds to the dramatic point, even if it subtracts from the musical joys. By contrast, Placido Domingo is vocally superb, a commanding prince” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition ***