Search - Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: New Year's Eve Concert 1985 on DVD

New Year's Concert 1985

Michael T. Willoughby | Overland Park, KS United States | 12/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One who is familiar with the works of Herbert von Karajan will know about his unique power with orchestration. This particular DVD is no different, and in fact exceptional (again)! Weber's "Der Freischutz," Cavallo's "Pagliacci", Puccini's "Manon Lescaut," Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #5," and Ravel's "Bolero" to be experienced on one DVD is marketing genius. The "Der Freischutz" Overture leads this DVD with a steady, almost Straussian alpine touch of individual signature pieces for building the movement, such as the magical horns that adds grace, and power to the work. It was almost like von Karajan was sending each listener through a maze, in which the mood was steady, and unyielding until Ravel's "Bolero." This is a very good example of early, middle, and later Romanticism works that von Karajan shares for this remarkable evening.
Herbert von Karajan's Legacy for Home Video is truly a remarkable collection, which the best is presented for the true connoisseur of classical music. I highly recommend this, and all others in the collection."