• Tracks

Third release in the series of Herbert von Karajan Hybrid SACD releases with a new HD 192/24 remastering from the original tapes. The cycle of Franz Schubert's symphonies recorded by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic in the late 1970s remains an essential staple of the catalogue. The recordings capture the Berlin "signature sound" of that era: a silky legato and incomparable orchestral fluidity, impressive power in the brass and percussion, and a spacious recording quality achieved within the generous acoustics of the Berlin Philharmonie. It is in the final two symphonies that Karajan's conducting fully flourishes. In the "Unfinished" Symphony, he excels at establishing a mysterious and tragic atmosphere. The "Great" Symphony is undoubtedly the jewel of the cycle, where Karajan maintains a constant rhythmic pulse without ever sacrificing the plastic beauty of the sound, with the finale being a true demonstration of controlled power.