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The Sound of Herbert von Karajan TITLE The Sound of Herbert von Karajan (3CD) Portrait of an iconic conductor He was the world's most popular podium idol - Herbert von Karajan, the Inchmythical Maestro'. And nearly three decades after his death he tops the pantheon of the classical music world with his legendary recordings. This 3-CD edition brings together great moments in his discography with which Karajan wrote recording history. - Herbert von Karajan is the epitome of the conductor. Who could fail to recognize his profile with it's streamlined shock of hair? Even now, almost three decades since he died at the age of 81 in 1989, the charismatic figure remains an icon. His unparalleled career took wing on the momentum of early globalization the success of the long-playing vinyl disc was the success of Herbert von Karajan. He cut some 800 records and was instrumental in spreading Western classical music to the uttermost parts of the earth. How are we to explain the lasting fascination of the Karajan phenomenon? In musical terms, one factor is surely paramount among the many elements that constitute an interpretation, Karajan quite clearly gave primacy to just one, namely the sound. For him, beauty and purity of tone were key. No extraneous noise was allowed to distract; there must be nothing to indicate how this ecstasy of sound came into existence. Karajan's orchestral sound has an almost hypnotic effect. Few conductors are so clearly to be recognized on recordings as he is. True, Karajan sometimes had ideas of his own about the composer's tonal language, and that is one of the peculiarities of his enigmatic personality. Any student of his biography will be struck by it's ambivalent features. Not once but twice, we are told, Karajan joined the Nazi party. It did no harm to his career in the InchThird ReichInch, and the highly talented young man rose swiftly from
