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John Bridcut

Philip Armstrong-Dampier

Philip Reynolds

Riaz Meer

1212 Productions

Placido Domingo

Anne-Sophie Mutter

Jessye Norman

James Galway

Sir Mark Elder

Neville Marriner

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Ernst Wild

Kathleen Sturdy

Michael Hampe

Sir Simon Rattle

Lore Salzburger

Peter Alward

Andreas Blau

Gunther Breest

Clemens Hellsberg

Hansjorg Schellenberger

Gillian Eastwood

Humphrey Burton

Pierrette Galeone

Peter Carter

David Bell

Klaus Stoll

Karajan's Magic and Myth

Documentaries

Music: Classical

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

05/12/2014

BBC Four - Karajan's Magic and Myth

Profile of the controversial, enigmatic conductor Herbert von Karajan.

Profile exploring the many paradoxes in the life and music of the controversial, enigmatic Herbert von Karajan, the most successful conductor in the history of classical music.

Over twenty-five years after his death in July 1989, the controversial Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan remains an enigma. He was the most successful conductor in the history of classical music. Many of those recordings - of Italian opera, of Wagner and Richard Strauss, of Sibelius, Beethoven and Brahms - are treasured by music lovers around the world. Yet, even at the peak of his fame, his performances were variously criticised for being too opulent, too manicured, lacking warmth or spiritual depth.  

This musical profile explores the many paradoxes in the life and music of this controversial figure, who forged his international reputation in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra shortly after the end of the Second World War and went on to reign supreme in the classical music world during his three decades with the Berlin Philharmonic. The film also examines Karajan's belief in the visual power of music, and his determination to leave behind a substantial legacy of music on film.   

Karajan was famous not only for his music, but also his glittering off-duty moments on the ski slopes, piloting his own jet, sailing his yacht and driving top-of-the-range fast cars. Yet, at the same time, he was a solitary man with few friends, who drew his strength from long walks in the Austrian mountains.   

In this feature-length profile, the first ever made about Karajan for BBC Television, those who worked closely with Karajan, including singers Placido Domingo and Jessye Norman, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, conductors Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Sir Neville Marriner and flautist Sir James Galway, speak of his almost magical power as a conductor and the reality that lay behind the Karajan myth.

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