Herbert von Karajan's recordings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem in D minor offer an old-fashioned, highly reverent approach to the work, and they share a common manner of interpretation that persisted with the conductor for over two decades. Anyone familiar with Karajan's Deutsche Grammophon recordings of the Requiem from the 1970s and '80s will not be surprised at the extremely slow tempos, heavy orchestral accompaniment, thick choral counterpoint, and nearly operatic style of the vocal soloists, which make this ...
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Herbert von Karajan's recordings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem in D minor offer an old-fashioned, highly reverent approach to the work, and they share a common manner of interpretation that persisted with the conductor for over two decades. Anyone familiar with Karajan's Deutsche Grammophon recordings of the Requiem from the 1970s and '80s will not be surprised at the extremely slow tempos, heavy orchestral accompaniment, thick choral counterpoint, and nearly operatic style of the vocal soloists, which make this performance suitable only for traditionalists. Fortunately, it's that kind of listener who will seek out this historic recording from 1960, and who will already know of Karajan's penchant for the grandiose. Because the live analog sound from the Salzburg Festival is still a little fuzzy and lacking in dimensions, despite Archipel's digital mastering, this recording has the added burden of sounding a bit ancient to modern ears. Even so, this is no difficulty for Karajan's fans or students...
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