Monumental Karajan, Herbert von Karajan

Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan, who was the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 35 years, is widely considered to have been one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. A dominant figure in classical music, Karajan is not only the world s best-selling conductor but also one of EMI Classics best-selling artist of all time. Herbert von Karajan s name became synonymous with the best in orchestral music and his legacy of outstanding recordings is enormous. This 3-CD set gives just a taste of some of his best and most characteristic performances. From the display power in Mozart s Symphony No. 40 to his lighter side in the Strauss s polkas, Karajan s conducting style is truly masterful. Born in Salzburg in 1908, Karajan spent his early years working in Aachen before coming to Berlin where he was hailed as Das Wunder Karajan ( The Karajan Miracle ). After the Second World War he was signed in Vienna by EMI producer Walter Legge to record with the Wiener Philharmoniker and subsequently became effectively principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. He then succeeded Furtwängler as Music Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker and he remained in that post until shortly before his death in 1989.