Franz Schubert - The Complete Symphonies (Herbert von Karajan)

Information

Composer: Franz Schubert

• Symphony No. 1 in D Major, D. 82
• Symphony No. 2 in B-Flat Major, D. 125
• Symphony No. 3 in D Major, D. 200
• Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, D. 417
• Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, D. 485
• Symphony No. 6 in C Major, D. 589
• Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 "Unfinished"
• Rosamunde, Op. 26, D. 797: Overture & Ballet Music
• Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944 "The Great"

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Date: 1978 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

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In the late 1970s, Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker achieved an exceptional level of sonic refinement. This collection showcases their 1978 cycle of symphonies by Franz Schubert, widely praised for its luminous precision and architectural clarity. Karajan’s command of orchestral balance and texture is evident throughout, revealing remarkable control over dynamics, tonal blend, and structural coherence. The celebrated “Karajan sound” reaches its height here, combining power with transparency and atmospheric depth. These interpretations not only exemplify technical excellence but also present Schubert’s masterpieces with a modern sensibility that set new interpretive standards.

Herbert von Karajan was born in Salzburg on 5 April 1908. Initially a gifted pianist, he turned to conducting at the encouragement of Bernard Paumgartner and studied with Franz Schalk in Vienna. He began his professional career in 1929 at the Ulm Opera, later becoming music director in Aachen and joining the Berlin State Opera in 1938. After the war, he recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic under producer Walter Legge and led London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. In 1955 he succeeded Wilhelm Furtwängler as director of the Berlin Philharmonic and later directed the Vienna State Opera. Internationally renowned for his recordings and technological innovation, Karajan died in 1989.