CD Box: Historic Performances – Karajan

Herbert von Karajan: The Early Lucerne Years, 1952–1957

Géza Anda (Bach), Clara Haskil (Bach), and Robert Casadesus (Mozart) piano
Nathan Milstein violin (Brahms)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Swiss Festival Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan conductor

works by J.S. Bach (Concerto for Two Pianos in C major, BWV 1061), Mozart (Piano Concerto in C minor, K. 491), Beethoven (Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 Pastoral & Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93), Brahms (Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 & Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98) and Honegger (Symphony No. 3 Liturgique)

For four decades, from 1948 to 1988, Herbert von Karajan was one of Lucerne Festival’s defining artists. Now available for the first time are his early Lucerne live recordings from the 1950s, when Karajan was rebuilding his career. He is joined by famous soloists such as Clara Haskil and Géza Anda, Robert Casadesus and Nathan Milstein.

The 62-page booklet in three languages contains essays by Wolfgang Rathert and Erich Singer on Karajan’s career re-launch during the post-war years and on his special relationship with Lucerne Festival. It also contains numerous previously unpublished photos.

The Historic Performances CD series presents live concert recordings of influential Festival artists. The sound quality of the original tapes has been painstakingly restored, and each release is accompanied by extensive documentation of its historical as well as artistic significance, together with photos and historical material from the Festival archives – a history of the Festival in sound.