The Karajan Official Remastered Edition comprises 13 box sets containing official remasterings of the finest recordings the Austrian conductor made for EMI between 1946 and 1984, and which are now a jewel of the Warner Classics catalogue.
For many, Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) – hailed early in his career as ‘Das Wunder Karajan’ (The Karajan Miracle) and known in the early 1960s as ‘the music director of Europe’ – remains the ultimate embodiment of the maestro. The release of the Karajan Official Remastered Edition over the first half of 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the conductor’s death in July 1989 at the age of 81.
He was closely associated with EMI for the majority of his recording career (specifically from 1946 to 1960 and then again from 1969 to 1984). EMI’s legendary producer Walter Legge sought him out in Vienna just after World War II and the long relationship that ensued embraced recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Philharmonia (the orchestra founded by Legge), the Berlin Philharmonic (of which Karajan became ‘conductor for life’ in 1955), the forces of La Scala, Milan, and the Orchestre de Paris.
The Karajan Official Remastered Edition will feature primarily symphonic and choral music. The entire edition will comprise recordings remastered from the original sources in 24-bit/96kHz at Abbey Road Studios, the world’s most renowned recording studio.
Disc 1
01 The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1 RV 269, 'Spring' : I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
02 The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1 RV 269, 'Spring': II. Largo - Herbert von Karajan
03 The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1 RV 269, 'Spring': III. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
04 Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons], Violin Concerto in G minor Op.8 No.2 RV315, 'Summer': I. Allegro non molto - Herbert von Karajan
05 Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons], Violin Concerto in G minor Op.8 No.2 RV315, 'Summer': II. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
06 Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons], Violin Concerto in G minor Op.8 No.2 RV315, 'Summer': III. L'Orage - Presto - Herbert von Karajan
07 The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 3 RV 269, 'Autumn': I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
08 The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 3 RV 269, 'Autumn': II. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
09 The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 3 RV 269, 'Autumn': III. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
10 Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons]: Violin Concerto in E major Op.8 No.4 RV269, 'Winter': I. Allegro non molto - Herbert von Karajan
11 Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons]: Violin Concerto in E major Op.8 No.4 RV269, 'Winter': II. Largo - Herbert von Karajan
12 Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons]: Violin Concerto in E major Op.8 No.4 RV269, 'Winter': III. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
13 Thaïs: Méditation - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 2
01 Piano Concerto No.1 in C Op.15 (cadenzas: Beethoven): I. Allegro con brio - Herbert von Karajan
02 Piano Concerto No.1 in C Op.15 (cadenzas: Beethoven): II. Largo - Herbert von Karajan
03 Piano Concerto No.1 in C Op.15 (cadenzas: Beethoven): III. Rondo: Allegro scherzando - Herbert von Karajan
04 Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat Op.19 (cadenzas: Beethoven): I. Allegro con brio - Herbert von Karajan
05 Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat Op.19 (cadenzas: Beethoven): II. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
06 Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19 (cadenzas: Beethoven): III. Rondo - molto allegro - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 3
01 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op.37 (cadenzas: Beethoven): I. Allegro con brio - Herbert von Karajan
02 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op.37 (cadenzas: Beethoven): II. Largo - Herbert von Karajan
03 Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (cadenzas: Beethoven): III. Rondo - Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
04 Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Op.73 "Emperor": I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
05 Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Op.73 "Emperor": II. Adagio un poco mosso - - Herbert von Karajan
06 Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Op.73 "Emperor": III. Rondo - Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 4
01 Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Op.58: I. Allegro moderato - Herbert von Karajan
02 Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Op.58: II. Andante con moto - - Herbert von Karajan
03 Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo - Vivace - Herbert von Karajan
04 Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C Op.56: I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
05 Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C Op.56: II. Largo - Herbert von Karajan
06 Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C Major, Op. 56: III. Rondo alla Polacca - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 5
01 Concerto for Flute and Harp in C K299: I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
02 Concerto for Flute and Harp in C K299: II. Andantino - Herbert von Karajan
03 Concerto for Flute and Harp in C Major, K. 299: III. Rondeau: Allegro (cadenza: Karl Hermann Pillney) - Herbert von Karajan
04 Flute Concerto No.1 in G K313: I. Allegro maestoso (cadenza: Hugo Ruf) - Herbert von Karajan
05 Flute Concerto No.1 in G K313: II. Adagio non troppo (cadenza: Burghard Schaeffer) - Herbert von Karajan
06 Flute Concerto No.1 in G K313: III. Rondo: Tempo di menuetto (cadenza: Andreas Blau) - Herbert von Karajan
07 Bassoon Concerto in B Flat K191: I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
08 Bassoon Concerto in B Flat K191: II. Andante ma adagio - Herbert von Karajan
09 Bassoon Concerto in B Flat K191: III. Rondo: Tempo di menuetto - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 6
01 Clarinet Concerto in A K622: I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
02 Clarinet Concerto A Major, K. 622: II. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
03 Clarinet Concerto in A K622: III. Rondo: Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
04 Oboe Concerto in C K314: I. Allegro aperto - Herbert von Karajan
05 Oboe Concerto in C K314: II. Adagio non troppo - Herbert von Karajan
06 Oboe Concerto in C K314: III. Rondo - Allegretto - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 7
01 Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat K297b: I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
02 Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat K297b: II. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
03 Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat K297b: III. Andantino con variazioni - Herbert von Karajan
04 Violin Concerto in D Op.77 (Cadenzas: Kreisler): I. Allegro non troppo - Herbert von Karajan
05 Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 (Cadenzas: Kreisler): II. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
06 Violin Concerto in D Op.77 (Cadenzas: Kreisler): III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 8
01 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 23: I. Allegro non troppo e molto - Herbert von Karajan
02 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 23: II. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo - Herbert von Karajan
03 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro con fuoco - Herbert von Karajan
04 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato - Herbert von Karajan
05 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18: II. Adagio sostenuto - Herbert von Karajan
06 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18: III. Allegro scherzando - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 9
01 Symphonic Variations - Herbert von Karajan
02 Don Quixote Op. 35: Introduction - Herbert von Karajan
03 Don Quixote Op. 35: Thema: Don Quixote und Sancho Panza - Herbert von Karajan
04 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation I - Das Abenteuer mit dem Windmühlen - Herbert von Karajan
05 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation II - Die Schlacht mit der Hammelherde - Herbert von Karajan
06 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation III - Gespräch zwischen Ritter und Knapp - Herbert von Karajan
07 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation IV - Das Abenteuer mit den Pilgern - - Herbert von Karajan
08 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation V - Das Ritters Nachtwache - - Herbert von Karajan
09 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation VI - Der Begegnung mi Dulcinea - - Herbert von Karajan
10 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation VII - Der Ritt durch die Luft - - Herbert von Karajan
11 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation VIII: Die Fahrt auf dem verzauberten Nachen [Barcarolle] - - Herbert von Karajan
12 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation IX - Der Kampf gegen die beiden Zauberer - Herbert von Karajan
13 Don Quixote Op. 35: Variation X - Don Quixotes Niederlage - - Herbert von Karajan
14 Don Quixote, Op. 35: Finale - Don Quixotes Tod - Herbert von Karajan
Disc 10
01 Trumpet Concerto in D (ed. Grebe): I. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
02 Trumpet Concerto in D Major, TWV 51: D7 (ed. Grebe): II. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
03 Trumpet Concerto in D (ed. Grebe): III. Grave - Herbert von Karajan
04 Trumpet Concerto in D (ed. Grebe): IV. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
05 Trumpet Concerto in E flat (ed. Oubradous): I. Allegro con spirito - Herbert von Karajan
06 Trumpet Concerto in E flat (ed. Oubradous): II. Andante - Herbert von Karajan
07 Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major (ed. Oubradous): III. Rondo: Allegro molto - Herbert von Karajan
08 Trumpet Concerto in D (ed. Seiffert): I. Adagio - Herbert von Karajan
09 Trumpet Concerto in D (ed. Seiffert): II. Allegro moderato - Herbert von Karajan
10 Trumpet Concerto in A flat (ed. Thilde): I. Allegro - Herbert von Karajan
11 Trumpet Concerto in A flat (ed. Thilde): II. Sarabande - Herbert von Karajan
12 Trumpet Concerto in A flat (ed. Thilde): III. Presto - Herbert von Karajan