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Karajan's account of the Fifth has been a classic since the day it appeared. The reading is remarkable for its tensile strength and lyric sweep, and it possesses in full measure the quality of power in reserve that was characteristic of the conductor's best recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic. The tempos are well chosen, and the performance moves inexorably forward without seeming to be pushed. The playing of the Philharmonic is assured throughout and rich in atmosphere. The Classical Symphony comes off sounding just a bit heavy and humorless--it is brilliantly played but not quite lighthearted enough. Still, this is a formidable coupling. The recorded sound is somewhat glary in Fifth, but has adequate weight and detail. At mid-price, this is one of the most attractive of the many couplings of these works. --Ted Libbey

Product Description

Prokofiev and Stravinsky were hardly among conductor Herbert von Karajan or the Berlin Philharmonic's specialties though their very personal accounts here of these two Russian orchestral staples are never less than interesting. Their lush, vigorous performance of Prokofiev's 5th Symphony is thrilling with the winds and strings especially displaying exceptional precision and clarity. While lacking the extrovert fury the vast majority of conductors bring to Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Karajan's certainly unique, lighter, more neighbor-friendly interpretation will appeal to some as well., ISBN13: B000001GHI ISBN10: B000001GHI Material Type: audioCD