Karajan Sacred & Choral Recordings

The best recordings ever!A must item in every classic music lover home!

Great! As expected.

This 29-CD box set is full of duplicate versions, with two works (Mozart's Requiem and Haydn's Creation) represented in triplicate. As such, it has a specialized and fairly limited market: it's designed for collectors of Karajan with the money and the leisure time to pour over several performances of the same piece to hear how his interpretations have changed over time. For anyone in this group - except of course for those among them who absolutely detest his choral music - this deluxe box is a real bargain. Most ordinary listeners would be well-served by investing in the maestro's 1966/69 Creation and one or two of the other performances included here (or perhaps Karajan's earlier EMI performances of Bach's choral masterpieces instead). Those who feel the need for this box already know who you are.Several reviewers here have expressed their intense disdain for Karajan's way with large scale choral works by the time he made these recordings for Deutsche Grammophon. These are not unreasonable or isolated points-of-view, but neither are they anywhere near as universal as these writers would have us believe. Others have found much to celebrate here. Not to argue but simply in the interest of providing some balance, here are a couple of contrasting opinions.“Such is not the case with the [Creation] recording that remains my (and most critics’) choice: Karajan in 1966/69, with the Vienna Singverein and Berlin Philharmonic. Here is the grandest, strongest performance of all. The choral singing and orchestral playing are expressive and rock solid, and the soloists are extraordinary.” - Third Ear Guide"Karajan's 1987 digital version of [Mozart's] Requiem is a large-scale reading, but one that is white-hot with intensity and energy. The power and bite of the rhythm are consistently exciting. The solo quartet is first-rate... The close balance adds to the excitement." - Penguin Guide“Karajan’s analogue account of [Bruckner’s] Te Deum is spacious and strong, bringing out the score’s breadth and drama. This is very satisfying and, if the Verdi coupling is acceptable, if the Verdi [Requiem] coupling is acceptable, is self-recommending.” - Penguin GuideAs always, attentive listeners will make up their own minds.

An extremely great contribution to the music of the last century to this century.This conductor never envisioned himself as the best or ultimate; he simply gave us these glorious works as he saw them.Remarkable works of great genius interpreted by a group of musicians led by a great man of the genre and recorded in such a way that we are gifted by the music, the composers, the art, the aesthetic and the realization of something that otherwise we might have missed.Harold Edward Wills, DMA

Very fine recordings. nicely remastered.

I have to, reluctantly, go along with Peter. With the exceptions of his early Brahm's and, possibly, the St Matthew, this is not Karajan's fines work.. Also all have already been released in the other 3 big DGG sets. But, on the positive side, the price ain't bad.

It is understandable if people like Karajan's orchestral or opera recordings, but how can someone come up with the idea to release his complete choral music? Generallly speaking, these are uninspired recordings featuring choirs who do not keep up with today's measure. They didn't even kept up with yesterday's measures. Not even the great soloists perform well with Karajan's slow tempi. I have nothing against classic perfomances in the "grand" style, but Karajan is simply not the man to deliver such. I know most of these recordings from the time when they were initially released, and it is difficult to point out any single of them as a good exception. Not recommended.

Great set as always with Karajan you can't go wrong - interesting idea to contrast different recordings in same box. Good price for so much material - good easy layout, original covers & enjoyed the booklet - perfect

Nouveau (et dernier?) coffret de la fabuleuse karajan édition de dg, après les années 60,70,80 et les opéras, voici le coffret musique sacrée. Bien moins impressionnant que les précédentes moutures ('que' 29 cd, là où les précédents coffrets faisaient minimum 70 cd), mais toujours avec une présentation aussi soignée, ce coffret est toutefois complètement inutile pour ceux ayant les autres coffrets de la collection. Il ne fait en effet que reprendre les oeuvres religieuses précédemment parues (les requiem de brahms, mozart, verdi, les missa solemnis, les créations, les bach...) et déjà contenues dans les autres coffrets, sans aucune nouveauté. La programmation est consultable sur le site d'amazon. Ce coffret est surtout un joli index supplémentaire pour avoir une vision d'ensemble du vocal sacré de karajan. Il possède un intérêt pour celui n'ayant pas les autres coffrets. Pour les autres, vous êtes prévenus, c'est une simple et jolie opération marketing que le grand chef aurait sans doute validée pour vendre quelques disques supplémentaires...

Diese 29 CD Box mit den "complete sacred and choral recordings on Deutsche Grammophon" ist eine nette Zugabe zu den Karajan Boxen der einzelnen Jahrzehnte (1960er-, 1970er, 1980er-Jahre); wer diese 3 Boxen ohnehin besitzt, braucht diese "Sacred-Box" nicht mehr: die hier enthaltenen Aufnahmen sind bereits in den anderen Boxen enthalten.Aber natürlich ist diese "Sacred-Box" eine erstklassige und sehr günstige Zusammenstellung der geistlichen Aufnahmen Karajans für die DGG. Sie beinhaltet z.B. große Highlights wie die "Missa Solemnis" von Beethoven (mit Janowitz, Ludwig, Wunderlich & den Berliner Philharmonikern) oder das Verdi "Requiem" ( in der Aufnahme mit Agnes Baltsa, Jose Carreras und Jose von Dam).Und alle CDs sind in Original-Hüllen des LP-Designs - nicht nur die Cover-Vorderseite (wie heute in der Regel üblich), sondern auch die Cover-Rückseite. Wie wunderbar !(J.Fromholzer)

Bonjour,Reçu ce jour coffret KARAJAN musique sacrée DG.Erreur d'envoi rectifiée. En effet en lieu et place de ce coffret de 29 CD j'avais d'abord reçu, par erreur, un coffret de 2 CD de musique Celtique ! déconvenue ! Surprise désagréable.Mais erreur rectifiée rapidement.Je me régale par avance d'écouter tout ces CD, dont je possède, pour certains, le vinyle d'origine.

Belle esecuzioni e ottime scelte dei brani ad un costo contenuto una occasikne per conoscere Karajan e sentire dei cantanti eccellenti del passaro