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Herbert von Karajan

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Herbert von Karajan

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🎂 April 5, 1908📍 Salzburg, Austria🕯️ July 16, 1989 · Age 81

Biography

Herbert von Karajan (born Heribert Ritter[a] von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and during the Second World War he conducted at the Berlin State Opera. Generally regarded as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, he was a controversial but dominant figure in European classical music from the mid-1950s until his death. Part of the reason for this was the large number of recordings he made and their prominence during his lifetime. By one estimate, he was the top-selling…

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Herbert von Karajan (born Heribert Ritter[a] von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and during the Second World War he conducted at the Berlin State Opera. Generally regarded as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, he was a controversial but dominant figure in European classical music from the mid-1950s until his death. Part of the reason for this was the large number of recordings he made and their prominence during his lifetime. By one estimate, he was the top-selling classical music recording artist of all time, having sold an estimated 200 million records. The Karajans were of Macedonian Greek ancestry. Herbert's great-great-grandfather, Georg Karajan (Geórgios Karajánnis, Greek: Γεώργιος Καραγιάννης), was born in Kozani, in the Ottoman province of Rumelia (now in Greece), leaving for Vienna in 1767, and eventually Chemnitz, Electorate of Saxony. His last name, like several other Ottoman-era ones, contains the Turkish language prefix "kara", which means "black". He and his brother participated in the establishment of Saxony's cloth industry, and both were ennobled for their services by Frederick Augustus III on 1 June 1792, thus adding the prefix "von" to the family name. This usage disappeared with the abolition of Austrian nobility after World War I. The surname Karajánnis became Karajan. Although traditional biographers ascribed a Slovak and Serbian or simply a Slavic origin to his mother, Karajan's family from the maternal side, through his grandfather who was born in the village of Mojstrana, Duchy of Carniola (today in Slovenia), was Slovene. Aromanian heritage has also been claimed. Through the Slovene line, Karajan was related to the Slovenian-Austrian composer Hugo Wolf. He also seems to have known some Slovene. Heribert Ritter von Karajan was born in Salzburg, Austria-Hungary, the second son of senior consultant Ernst von Karajan (1868–1951) and Marta (née Martha Kosmač; 1881–1954) (married 1905). He was a child prodigy at the piano. From 1916 to 1926, he studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg with Franz Ledwinka (piano), Franz Zauer (harmony), and Bernhard Paumgartner (composition and chamber music). He was encouraged to concentrate on conducting by Paumgartner, who detected his exceptional promise in that regard. In 1926 Karajan graduated from the conservatory and continued his studies at the Vienna Academy, studying piano with Josef Hofmann (a teacher with the same name as the pianist) and conducting with Alexander Wunderer and Franz Schalk. Karajan made his debut as a conductor in Salzburg on 22 January 1929. The performance got the attention of the general manager of the Stadttheater in Ulm and led to Karajan's first appointment as assistant Kapellmeister of the theater. His senior colleague in Ulm was Otto Schulmann. After Schulmann was forced to leave Germany in 1933 with the NSDAP takeover, Karajan was promoted to first Kapellmeister. ... Source: Article "Herbert von Karajan" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Biography expanded

BODY OF WORK

Herbert von Karajan's Filmography

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Grace Bumbry is Carmen
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Grace Bumbry is Carmen

2024

as Conductor

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No Poster

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Please Call Me Claudio: The Visionary Claudio Abbado

2024

as Self (archive footage)

Ludwig Van Beethoven: 9 Symphonies
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Ludwig Van Beethoven: 9 Symphonies

2023

as Conductor

Karajan: Portrait of a Maestro
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Karajan: Portrait of a Maestro

2019⭐ 7.0

as Self - Music Conductor (archive footage)

Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable
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Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable

2019⭐ 10.0

as Self (archive footage)

Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana & Leoncavallo: Pagliacci
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Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana & Leoncavallo: Pagliacci

2018

as Conductor

The Clouzot Scandal
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The Clouzot Scandal

2017⭐ 6.6

as Self (archive footage)

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No Poster

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Karajan - Der Maestro und sein Festival

2017

as Self (archive)

Herbert Von Karajan: Dvorak - Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9
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Herbert Von Karajan: Dvorak - Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9

2015

as Self

Verdi: Falstaff
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Verdi: Falstaff

2015

as Self - Conductor

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No Poster

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Herbert von Karajan – The Second Life

2012

as Self (archive footage)

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No Poster

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Karajan dirigiert Beethovens Siebente (Directors Cut)

2010

as Self (archive footage)

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No Poster

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Inside Karajan

2008

as Self

Karajan: Beauty As I See It
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Karajan: Beauty As I See It

2008

as Self (archive footage)

Karajan - Beethoven: The Symphonies
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Karajan - Beethoven: The Symphonies

2008

as Self - Conductor

Herbert von Karajan: Maestro for the Screen
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Herbert von Karajan: Maestro for the Screen

2008

as Self (archival footage)

Beethoven · Missa Solemnis (Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan)
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Beethoven · Missa Solemnis (Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan)

2008⭐ 9.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no. 9
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Karajan: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no. 9

2008
Karajan: Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklarung / Metamorphosen
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Karajan: Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklarung / Metamorphosen

2008
Karajan: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies nos. 5-8
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Karajan: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies nos. 5-8

2008
Karajan: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies nos. 1-4
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Karajan: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies nos. 1-4

2008
Karajan: Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie / Also Sprach Zarathustra
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Karajan: Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie / Also Sprach Zarathustra

2008
Karajan: Richard Strauss: Don Quixote / Ein Heldenleben
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Karajan: Richard Strauss: Don Quixote / Ein Heldenleben

2008

as Self - Conductor

Karajan In Concert
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Karajan In Concert

2008

as Self - Conductor

Karajan Tchaikovsky Symphonies 4, 5 & 6
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Karajan Tchaikovsky Symphonies 4, 5 & 6

2007

as Self - Conductor

Rostropovich Life & Art
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Rostropovich Life & Art

2007⭐ 7.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan - Bruckner - Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9
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Karajan - Bruckner - Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9

2007⭐ 10.0

as Self

Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 1, 2 & 3
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Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 1, 2 & 3

2005

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 4, 5 & 6
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Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 4, 5 & 6

2005

as Self - Conductor

Karajan · Die Symphonien
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Karajan · Die Symphonien

2005

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 7, 8 & 9
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Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 7, 8 & 9

2005⭐ 10.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Opening Concert - Berlin 750 Years
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Karajan: Opening Concert - Berlin 750 Years

2003
Herbert Von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
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Herbert Von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

2003

as Self - Conductor

Herbert von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6
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Herbert von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

2001

as Self - Conductor

Herbert Von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
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Herbert Von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

2000

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: 1988 New Year's Concert - Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky
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Karajan: 1988 New Year's Concert - Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky

1999
Herbert Von Karajan: Dvorák - Symphony No. 9
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Herbert Von Karajan: Dvorák - Symphony No. 9

1999

as Self - Conductor

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No Poster

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Maestro, Maestro! Herbert von Karajan

1999

as Self

The Art of Conducting: Great Conductors of the Past
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The Art of Conducting: Great Conductors of the Past

1993⭐ 9.0

as Self (archive footage)

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No Poster

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Karajan conducts Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Orch. Ravel)

1992

as Herbert von Karajan

Vivaldi - The Four Seasons / Von Karajan, Mutter, Berlin Philharmonic
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Vivaldi - The Four Seasons / Von Karajan, Mutter, Berlin Philharmonic

1990

as Self - Conductor

Don Giovanni
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Don Giovanni

1987⭐ 8.7

as Self - Conductor

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No Poster

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Brahms Symphony No. 1 - Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert von Karajan

1987
Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker 1987
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Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker 1987

1987

as Self - Conductor

Herbert Von Karajan - New Year's Concert Vienna 1987
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Herbert Von Karajan - New Year's Concert Vienna 1987

1987⭐ 7.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem
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Karajan: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem

1986⭐ 10.0
Don Carlo
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Don Carlo

1986

as Self - Conductor

Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Don Carlo
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Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Don Carlo

1986
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No Poster

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Herbert von Karajan conducts Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

1986

as Self

Herbert Von Karajan - Berliner Philarmoniker - Debussy: La Mer, Prélude A L'après-midi D'un Faune - Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloé Suite No. 2
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Herbert Von Karajan - Berliner Philarmoniker - Debussy: La Mer, Prélude A L'après-midi D'un Faune - Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloé Suite No. 2

1985

as Conductor

Karajan: Mozart - Coronation Mass
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Karajan: Mozart - Coronation Mass

1985
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No Poster

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Dvorak: Symphony No. 9: From the New World

1985⭐ 9.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 8
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Karajan: Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 8

1985

as Self

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No Poster

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Karajan: Brahms: German Requiem

1985

as Conductor

Karajan: Bach: Violin Concerto No. 2: New Year's Eve Concert 1984
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Karajan: Bach: Violin Concerto No. 2: New Year's Eve Concert 1984

1984

as Self - Conductor

Bach: Magnificat - Karajan
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Bach: Magnificat - Karajan

1984

as Self - Conductor

Herbert von Karajan: Live in Osaka
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Herbert von Karajan: Live in Osaka

1984

as Self - Conductor

Der Rosenkavalier
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Der Rosenkavalier

1984⭐ 10.0

as Self - Conductor

Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61
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Beethoven: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61

1984

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Beethoven: Violin Concerto
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Karajan: Beethoven: Violin Concerto

1984
Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Requiem
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Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Requiem

1984⭐ 8.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Strauss: Death and Transfiguration & Metamorphosen
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Karajan: Strauss: Death and Transfiguration & Metamorphosen

1984

as dirigent

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No Poster

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Karajan: Beethoven: Symphony 1 & 8

1984

as Self

Brahms: The Symphonies
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Brahms: The Symphonies

1980⭐ 9.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan conducts Ravel and Debussy
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Karajan conducts Ravel and Debussy

1979

as Self

Karajan: New Year's Eve Concert
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Karajan: New Year's Eve Concert

1978⭐ 10.0
Wagner: Das Rheingold
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Wagner: Das Rheingold

1978⭐ 2.0

as Self - Conductor

Impressions of Herbert von Karajan
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Impressions of Herbert von Karajan

1978

as Self

Il Trovatore - Verdi
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Il Trovatore - Verdi

1978⭐ 6.3

as Self - Conductor

Karajan Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem
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Karajan Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem

1978

as Self - Conductor

Beethoven Symphony No. 9
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Beethoven Symphony No. 9

1977⭐ 9.0

as Self - Conductor

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s New Year’s Eve Concert: 1977
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The Berliner Philharmoniker’s New Year’s Eve Concert: 1977

1977

as Self - Conductor

Puccini's Madama Butterfly
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Puccini's Madama Butterfly

1974⭐ 9.5

as Self - Conductor

Karajan dirigiert Beethovens fünfte Symphonie
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Karajan dirigiert Beethovens fünfte Symphonie

1973

as Self - Conductor

Otello
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Otello

1973⭐ 8.0

as Conductor

Eroica
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Eroica

1972⭐ 10.0

as Conductor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 7
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Beethoven - Symphony No. 7

1971⭐ 8.0

as Self - Conductor

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No Poster

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Beethoven - Symphony No. 8

1971

as Self - Conductor

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5
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Beethoven - Symphony No. 5

1971

as Self

Von Reinhardt bis Karajan - 50 Jahre Salzburger Festspiele
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Von Reinhardt bis Karajan - 50 Jahre Salzburger Festspiele

1970

as Self (archive footage)

Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci
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Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci

1970⭐ 8.5

as Self - Conductor

Verdi – Messa da Requiem
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Verdi – Messa da Requiem

1967⭐ 9.0

as Self - Conductor

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No Poster

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Pastorale

1967⭐ 7.2

as Self - Conductor

Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in B-Flat, Op. 23 (Karajan, Weissenberg, 1967)
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Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in B-Flat, Op. 23 (Karajan, Weissenberg, 1967)

1967

as self

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No Poster

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Herbert von Karajan, Symphonie n°5 Beethoven

1967

as Self - Conductor

Clouzot filme Karajan : la Symphonie du Nouveau Monde de Dvořák
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Clouzot filme Karajan : la Symphonie du Nouveau Monde de Dvořák

1966

as Chef d'Orchestre

Menuhin and Karajan - The Concert Great Moments in Music
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Menuhin and Karajan - The Concert Great Moments in Music

1966
Yehudi Menuhin und Herbert von Karajan – Mozart: Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 5
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Yehudi Menuhin und Herbert von Karajan – Mozart: Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 5

1966⭐ 7.0

as Self - Conductor

Karajan: Mozart Violin Concerto No 5, Dvorak Symphony No.9
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Karajan: Mozart Violin Concerto No 5, Dvorak Symphony No.9

1966

as Self - Conductor

Karajan in Rehearsal
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Karajan in Rehearsal

1965

as Self - Conductor

La Bohème - Teatro alla Scala
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La Bohème - Teatro alla Scala

1965⭐ 7.8

as Self - Conductor

Der Rosenkavalier
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Der Rosenkavalier

1962⭐ 7.5

as Self - Conductor

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