Brahms - Symphony No.1 - Karajan BPO, Live Tokyo 1988 - Remastered by Fafner

1. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro - Meno allegro 00:00
2. Andante sostenuto 14:07
3. Un poco allegretto e grazioso 23:15
4. Adagio - Piu andante - Allegro non troppo, ma con brio - Piu allegro 28:21

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C Minor, Op. 68

Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
1988 Live Tokyo Japan

[decorprimavera]

I went to this concert in 1988. I was 17 years old. It was the best concert that I have ever attended.

[antonflegias]

Il legato orchestrale di quest'immenso Uomo, è divino

[leestamm]

My favorite Karajan Brahms 1. An incredible live performance that is reminiscent of Furtwängler's legendary 1951 NDR interpretation. The extraordinary acoustics of Suntory Hall provided the perfect venue for this wonderful and majestic recording.

[gemmacoebergh]

Aristocratic performance, with glowing orchestral sound and mature musical insight. Karajan as an old and wise man!

[thetruth]

At the end of his life, he was 80. Still the greatest in my opinion.

[Hotspur]

Never has the Brahms been played with such a combination of ferocity and color. Karajan was a genius who excelled in almost everything but his Brahms, Beethoven, Bruckner, and Strauss were sui generis. The Brahms First in particular was a Karajan specialty - his "calling card" according to his biographer Richard Osborne.

This performance, from Karajan's Final Tour of Japan in May 1988, would have been important regardless, but the fact that he came into Tokyo in frail health and in open feud with his orchestra and then proceeded to drop one of the greatest Brahms performances in history makes this occasion and all who partook in it immortal.

The performance begins with enormous intensity but somehow manages to ratchet-up the tension and by start of the Scherzo the Berliners are operating in a different dimension. The coda of the Finale has never been matched by any recordings, live or studio.

A few months later, in the Royal Fesitval Hall, Karajan would give his final concert performance of this symphony - it can be heard on the BBC Testament Label in good sound (though not as good sound as this digital effort by Nippon Radio) and it replicates the atmosphere and intensity of this performance. Karajan must have known he was near the end, and mindful of eternity, sought to realize performances of transcendent power and beauty. To date they have never been matched.

In short, what you are hearing is the ultimate mic drop. The greatest orchestra and its greatest leader, taking one of the greatest symphonies of all time to a higher place...where eagles dare.

[BenedettaSaglietti]

Una delle più profonde, meditative, ultime incisioni di questa sinfonia.
Grazie di averla caricata

[asdrubalperez]

one of the best recordings of Karajan. Truly epic and outstanding.

[preludiotorino]

This is exemplary of how man can beautifully mature in his life. It was musicianship not showmanship that Karajan as well as us looked for, and this recording never disappoints us.

[denniserrolhawley]

This is my favorite of all symphonies!!!! Herbert von Karajan is esteemed by myself as one of the greatest conductors that ever lived amongst us!!!!

[Hotspur]

45:10....Karajan and the Berliners are betting the house here. ALL IN.

Astounding. The applause that follows is deafening and rightly so. Just listening to it 30 years later and I am moved.

Immortal.

[MrRichygm]

I saw Karajan conduct two Brahms symphonies in The Royal Festival Hall in London in 1987; I cannot remember which ones. About that time too, I attended a BPO concert in London where the orchestra's concert clothes had not arrived and so they had to perform in their everyday wear. Incidentally, this is probably the greatest performance of the Brahms 1 I have ever heard.

[jdeeside]

The sonority; the absolute majesty; the power; and the divine.

[PUCCINIMUSICK]

This is the extreme demonstration of the difference standing between Karajan AND the others. All the others.
This crippled man came on stage and Music was there. The weight of each single chord. This is what you need listening to. The sound, the power, the fullness, the accent of each single note. This IS mastery.

[jean-michelprillieux]

Les fameux coups de tambour du début donnent tout de suite une impression de drame effroyable qui se joue devant nos yeux et auquel on ne peut se détacher tout au long de ce premier mouvement.

[olgakravtsova]

Ingenious! It is a musical masterpiece of Brahms and Karajan. In my opinion - Karajan is the best conductor of Brahms.

[giosquinodascanio]

Un testamento spirituale... la più grande interpretazione di questo straordinario capolavoro

[jean-michelprillieux]

Du Karajan pur jus. Le début avec les tambours est grandiose. Il fait penser à une marche funèbre. Le scherzo est mon morceau préféré. A chaque fois que je l’écoute, j'en ai des frissons.

[joanwendt]

also possibly the most amazing and fun symphony to play in either violin section. really powerful recording

[jamespaine]

Another fine performance from Karajan and the BPO.