Herbert von Karajan and the Vienna Philharmonic

Special Annual Edition of the Vienna Philharmonic 2021

Since Herbert von Karajan's first appearance with our orchestra in Salzburg on 21 August 1934, his name has been inextricably linked with the history of the Vienna Philharmonic. During a collaboration that lasted 55 years through to his final concert in Vienna on 23 April 1989, there were innumerable high points and glorious moments in concert halls all over the world, as well as on the operatic stages of the Vienna State Opera and Salzburg Festival. His successful tours with the orchestra, including the legendary world tour of 1959 and the inauguration of the “Vienna Philharmonic Week” in New York in February 1989, made a lasting impression.

The various aspects of Karajan's unique and eventful history with our orchestra are presented in this book with numerous images from the Eliette and Herbert von Karajan Institute, the Archives of the Salzburg Festival, the Archives of the Vienna State Opera, the Archives of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna, the Historical Archives of the Vienna Philharmonic, as well as with contributions by figures such as Professor Dr Clemens Hellsberg, Professor DDr Otto Biba, Dr Oliver Láng, and the president of the Salzburg Festival, Dr Helga Rabl-Stadler. Several artists, including Kammersängerin Christa Ludwig, Philippe Auguin, Kammersänger José Carreras, Helmuth Froschauer, Mariss Jansons, Riccardo Muti, Christian Thielemann, and Franz Welser-Möst, have also spoken about their recollections of Karajan. The conductor's influence on the playing and sound of the Vienna Philharmonic is discussed in a series of interviews carried out for this book with colleagues from the orchestra's ranks. These recount personal events, conversations, and many anecdotes that paint a very vivid picture of this great artist. 

Publisher: Wiener Philharmoniker

Hard Cover
264 Pages
Weight: 1.45 kg
Language: English