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Herbert von Karajan

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Biography

Herbert von Karajan was born in Salzberg, Austria in 1908. He was a recognised child prodigy, being proficient at the piano from a very young age. He studied at the Mozarteum university in Salzberg where he learned the rudimentaries of classical composition and furthered his interest in conducting. After studying conducting further at the Vienna Academy, he scored the job conducting 'Salome' at Festspielhaus in 1929 and, from that position, earned a five year run as kapellmeister for the Stadttheater in Ulm. During his time in Ulm Karajan declared his allegiance to the Nazi party, a highly controversial move for which he would later suffer severe criticism. From 1934 to '41 Karajan served to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic at the Theater Aachen in Salzberg. While in this position he was invited as a guest conductor to the podiums of Amsterdam, Stockholm, Paris, Bucharest and Brussels, expanding his repertoire and reputation throughout Europe. He made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1938 when he conducted the Beethoven opera 'Fidelio'. This led to further performances with the Berlin Philharmonic and the State Opera including 'Tristan und Isolde' and with the Staatskapelle Berlin with 'The Magic Flute'. After marrying Anita Sauest, a woman who was one-quarter Jewish, he faced persecution from the Nazis and, with the help of a friend, Karajan and his wife escaped Germany, relocating to Milan. After the war had ended, Karajan resumed his position with the Vienna Philharmonic, performing intermittently with them until 1956 when he was offered the chance to be principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. He retained his relationship with the Vienna Philharmonic, serving as their artist director from '57 to '64, but Berlin was where his loyalties lay and he continued his duties until 1989, when he resigned his position due to ill health. Just three months later Herbert von Karajan died of a heart attack.
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Albums

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Top Tracks

  1.   Track
    Popularity
  2.   Lohengrin, WWV 75: Prelude (Langsam) by Herbert von Karajan
  3.   Karelia Suite, Op.11: I. Intermezzo by Herbert von Karajan
  4.   Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op.39: I. Andante, ma non troppo - Allegro energico by Herbert von Karajan
  5.   Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178, 'From the New World': II. Largo by Berliner Philharmoniker
  6.   Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op.73: I. Allegro non troppo featuring Herbert von Karajan
  7.   Masonic Funeral Music, K477 featuring Herbert von Karajan
  8.   Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 - 3. Vivace non troppo - Poco meno allegro - Tempo I featuring Herbert von Karajan
  9.   Hungarian Rhapsody No.4 in D minor, S.359 No.4 by Berliner Philharmoniker
  10.   Don Carlo, Act I: Dio che nell'alma featuring José Carreras
  11.   Aida, Act I: Se quel guerrier io fossi....Celeste Aida featuring Herbert von Karajan
  12.   Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59: Herr Gott im Himmel! (Presentation of the Silver Rose) featuring Herbert von Karajan
  13.   Falstaff, Act I, Scene One: So che se andiam la notte featuring Herbert von Karajan
  14.   Falstaff, Act II, Scene Two: Giunta all'albergo della Giarrettiera featuring Herbert von Karajan
  15.   Falstaff, Act III, Scene One: Ehi! Taverniere!....Io, dunque, avrò vissuto tant'anni featuring Herbert von Karajan
  16.   Falstaff, Act I, Scene Two: Fulgida Alice! amor t'offro featuring Herbert von Karajan
  17.   Falstaff, Act II, Scene One: Ve lo dirò...C'è a Windsor una dama featuring Herbert von Karajan
  18.   Falstaff, Act II, Scene Two: Alfin t'ho colto, raggiante fior.... featuring Herbert von Karajan
  19.   Aida: O terra addio (Aida/Radames/Coro/Amneris) featuring José Carreras
  20.   Die Meistersinger, Act III: Doch eines Abends spat featuring Herbert von Karajan
  21.   Die Meisterrsinger, Act II: Und doch, s'will halt nich gehn featuring Herbert von Karajan
  22.   Ariadne auf Naxos, Opera - conclusion: Es gibt ein Reich, wo alles rein ist (Ariadne) featuring Herbert von Karajan
  23.   Puccini: La Bohème / Act 4 - "Sono andati" featuring Herbert von Karajan
  24.   Puccini: Madama Butterfly, Act I: Viene la sera – Bimba dagli occhi – Vogliatemi bene – Vieni, vieni! (Love Duet) featuring Herbert von Karajan
  25.   Hänsel und Gretel, Act 1: "Suse, liebe Suse, was raschelt im Stroh?" (Gretel, Hänsel)
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