Herbert Von Karajan
by Robert Dornhelm
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Christian Thielemann, Herbert Von Karajan, Ren?? Kollo, Seiji OzawaDirector: Robert Dornhelm
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language); Chinese (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Surround Sound, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 92 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-05-13
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Movie Reviews of Herbert Von Karajan
Movie Review: Informative and Elegiacal
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Dornhelm's 92 minute film on the late, great Herbert von Karajan is informative, beautiful and elegiacal. More than any other question, it addresses what made Karajan (arguably) the supreme conductor of his generation and one of the towering musical figures of the twentieth century. Much rehearsal footage is included, as well as incisive, on-point, commentary by Christa Ludwig, Gundula Janowitz, Helmut Schmidt, Seiji Ozawa, Christian Thielemann, Brigitte Fassbaender, Yevgeny Kissin, Rene Kollo, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and others (gratuitous flattery seems absent). Karajan himself talks a lot in interviews and interacting with orchestras in rehearsal, generating thereby a feel for his artistry, one so inextricably entwined with his personality that it was never a transferable "method."
Robert Dornhelm's documentary is beautiful to look at, organized more thematically than chronologically. It is not a biography, though biographical information is encompassed, including, i.a., his membership in the Nazi party and the row with the BPO over his appointment of Sabine Mayer as principal clarinetist. Karajan has said elsewhere that, earlier in his career, he aimed at a synhesis of the "objectivity" of a Toscanini and the passion and sponteneity of a Furtwangler; ironically, neither name is mentioned in the film. Nor is there any discussion of his involvement in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra (of which he was principal conductor), originally a recording orchestra formed by Walter Legge for EMI, a rival firm to Deutsche Grammaphon who issued the DVD, though ample mention is made of Karajan's affiliation not only with the Berlin Philharmonic, of course, but also with the Vienna Philharmonic and La Scala (of which he was also music director), all with DG affiliations. Karajan left the London post when he became principal conductor of the BPO upon Furtwangler's death. These suspect omissions are, however, more peculiar than crippling.
Most interesting is a whole section towards the end of the documentary juxtaposing the contrasting styles of Karajan and Leonard Bernstein (both DG artists, incidentally). It is really an illuminating sequence.
There's loving participation by Karajan's widow and their two daughters.
Hidden in the menu under the word "trailers" are extensive excerpts from released DVD Karajan performances, not truncated clips but whole excerpts, e.g. the final scene from Rheinegold, part of Brahms German Requiem, Jon Vickers doing Vesti la Giubba, von Supp?'s Light Cavalry, etc.
Robert Dornhelm has put together an intelligent, beautiful documentary which will bring much repeated pleasure to anyone interested in 20th century classical music performance. Karajan is inescapable. The b&w rehearsal and concert film of Karajan and the Vienna Symphony (not the VPO) by Henri-Georges Clouzot is also warmly recommended.
I need to acknowledge that since I was a teenager I have been an admirer of Herbert von Karajan's work and have had the pleasure, indeed privilege, of seeing him perform live in concert, in the opera house, and as harpsichordist (!) with a chamber ensemble.
Summary of Herbert Von Karajan
First release in any format! Not just a biographical film,Karajan uncovers the true, personal essence of the unique
artist behind the public figure, a portrait of a man who was
full of contradictions and remained a mystery until his death.
On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Herbert von
Karajan, Academy Award? nominee Robert Dornhelm
has mined the archives of Unitel, for more than two decades
the great conductor s production home, for previously
unreleased material including rehearsal footage, and
interviews with members of the Karajan family, plus such
music world luminaries and colleagues as Anne-Sophie
Mutter, Seiji Ozawa, Christian Thielemann, Ren? Kollo,
Christa Ludwig, Brigitte Fassbaender, Gundula Janowitz,
Sir Simon Rattle, Mariss Jansons, Joachim Kaiser and
Helmut Schmidt.
The greater understanding of this legendary artist to be
experienced by seeing this film will certainly transfer to a
greater appreciation of his recordings, and is a must not only
for Karajan lovers, but for anyone who loves symphonic music.
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