Deutsche Grammophon & MonteVerdi Shop

First release in any format! Not just a biographical film, Karajan uncovers the true, personal essence of the unique artist behind the public figure, a portrait of a man who was full of contradictions and remained a mystery until his death. The greater understanding of this legendary artist to be experienced by seeing this film will certainly transfer to a greater appreciation of his recordings, and is a must not only for Karajan lovers, but for anyone who loves symphonic music.

In cooperation with

A live performance from the 1978 Salzburg Easter Festival. This is an interpretation notable for its emphasis on the gentle, comforting aspects of this requiem for the living. This release is made available by Unitel, the television production company that filmed so many unforgettable Von Karajan performances. The DVD is published on the occasion of the maestro’s 100^th birthday.

In cooperation with

The following consumer review is a perfect reflection of this DVD’s quality: "superb rendition in exquisite sound of Beethoven's nine symphonies by the orchestra and conductor who inspired a generation of classical music lovers during the 1960s and 1970s. Having attended live performances of this ensemble under Karajan between 1959 and 1983, this stunning set brings back to me the extraordinary experience each of those concert generated." Monteverdi highly recommends this DVD.

In cooperation with

This spectacular start of the “Ring” with Karajan in full control as conductor, stage- and video director, was doomed to remain a fragment. This 1978 studio production of Rheingold, the prologue to The Ring, is the only segment of the famous Salzburg Festival/Metropolitan Opera productions first seen in the 1960s that made it to film and was therefore a highly sought after collector’s item. Until the 2008 Deutsche Grammophon release of the film on DVD.

In cooperation with

One of the special video productions Karajan made with the ‘Teatro alla Scala’. Director Ake Falck adds a cinematic dimension to what would otherwise be a fairly straightforward screen document of celebrated director Giorgio Strehler´s La Scala production by means of outdoor shots of Sicily´s splendid landscapes during the overture and intermezzo of the Cavalleria. A true collector’s item with excellent reviews from the New York Times and the New York Post.

In cooperation with

Von Karajan’s loyal music label released 8 sets of CDs in 2008 to celebrate the symphonic heritage of their most important artist ever. In this highly awarded 1977 Beethoven cycle, Von Karajan sets a new standard of playing with his Berlin Philharmonic. The box also includes six of Beethoven’s overtures.

In cooperation with

This 3 CD set published all of the 5 symphonies of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Like almost all of Von Karajan’s recordings these Beethoven performances were received with general acclaim. Gramophone Magazine calls them "splendid performances…in which the greatness of this music is never in doubt" while Stereo Review especially praises the sound as being "excellent, particularly as to textural transparency and ambience".

In cooperation with

Brahms was one of Von Karajan’s favorite composers. and conducted the Brahms symphonies over and over. This series is a brilliant 1977- 1978 recording cycle of the symphonies, now re-released by Deutsche Grammophon on the occasion of the maestro’s jubilee year. Apart from the 4 symphonies, the box set also includes the Tragic Overture and the Haydn Variations. "The playing of the Berlin Philharmonic remains uniquely cultivated: the ensemble is finely polished, yet can provide tremendous bravura" (The Penguin Guide).

In cooperation with

Herbert von Karajan was one of the 20^th century’s supreme conductors – unsurpassed in his ability to mould an orchestra and to achieve his ideal sound. He was also a master in the recording studio, with over 250 albums produced for Deutsche Grammophon – the label with which he is most closely identified. Here, on 10 specially-priced CDs, is a celebration of the 100^th anniversary of his birth, featuring his work from 1959 to 1979 – including his first stereo recording for Deutsche Grammophon, his artistic partnership with the young Anne-Sophie Mutter, and much more.

In cooperation with

This CD box was release by Deutsche Grammophon shortly after Von Karajan’s death and published in 2008 again on the occasion of the maestro’s 100^th birthday. It is a collector’s item not to miss for the true Bruckner fans. Von Karajan puts his very personal stamp on the monumental symphonies of Anton Bruckner in superb orchestral playing.

In cooperation with

In eight individual sets the KARAJAN SYMPHONY EDITION brings together eight great symphonic cycles in superb performances by the Berliner Philharmoniker under its chief conductor – the master conductor of our age. The Tchaikovsky Edition rounded Deutsche Grammophon’s celebration of KARAJAN 2008. The collection contains his only recordings of Tchaikovksy´s Symphonies nos. 1 – 3. According to Gramophone Magazine this set "remains one of the most attractive bargains in the catalogue".

In cooperation with

This digital DG recording of Mozart's comic masterpiece has been overlooked by many Mozart fans. Herbert von Karajan’s refined interpretation is more than excellent. The strong cast shows singers features Jose van Dam (Sarastro), Edith Mathis (Pamina), Francisco Araiza (Tamino), Gottfried Hornik (Papageno) and Karin Ott's (Queen of the Night).

In cooperation with

This performance is gloriously memorable for the cultured beauty of the Berlin Philharmonic's playing, and the mingled joy, drama and majesty of the conducting. Then there is the peerless solo line-up, led by Gundula Janowitz's etereal, light filled soprano and the irreplaceable Fritz Wunderlich, who died in a tragic fall before the recording was finished, but whose lyrical, ardently phrased account of the tenor arias is the most urgent single reason for acquiring this great recording. (Daily Telegraph, 05. July 2003)

In cooperation with

Richard Osborne draws on his own extensive conversations with Karajan, interviews with those who knew the conductor, and a treasure trove of primary sources to bring into focus the flamboyance and flaws of an extraordinary musician as well as the turbulent international music scene over six decades. This comprehensive, well-balanced, and objective biography is judged as the definitive work on this exceptional maestro.

Hardcover, 863 pages - English
Release date: 2000
Price: $ 53.05

This book presents a photographic biography of Von Karajan’s life. This photo gallery shows Von Karajan’s great charisma and his obsessional work during recording sessions along with familiar shots. With a biographical essay by the foremost Karajan expert Richard Osborn and an introduction by the maestro’s favorite violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, this book beautifully complements Osborne’s biography.

Hardcover, 192 pages - English
Release date: 2007
Price: $ 37.76
German version - Bilder eines Lebens: € 34,00