Herbert von Karajan

Born: 1908-04-05

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.


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La Bohème

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1965-01-16

In the early 1960s two artistic giants, conductor Herbert von Karajan and director Franco...

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Madama Butterfly

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1974-09-14

Mirella Freni, Placido Domingo, Christa Ludwig, and Robert Kerns star in this Jean-Pierre...

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Otello

as Conductor
Released: 1973-05-21

Herbert von Karajan directed this film of Verdi’s Shakespearan masterpiece as well as conducting...

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Der Rosenkavalier

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1984-08-02

A production of Strauss' opera 'Der Rosenkavalier' performed at the Saltzburg Festival in 1984....

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Karajan: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem

as uncredited
Released: 1986-05-26

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Don Carlo

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1986-01-01

A live performance of Giuseppe Verdi's opera.

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Der Rosenkavalier

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1962-10-09

The legendary soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf stars in this acclaimed film of Richard Strauss'...

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Don Giovanni

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1987-07-18

Live performance from Salzburger Festspiele in 1987. Herbert von Karajan conducting the Wiener...

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Eroica - Director's Cut

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2009-06-15

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Herbert von Karajan: Maestro for the Screen

as Self (archival footage)
Released: 2008-04-07

Documentary on conductor Herbert van Karajan, focusing on his early adoption of audio and video...

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Von Reinhardt bis Karajan - 50 Jahre Salzburger Festspiele

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1970-08-16

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Herbert von Karajan, Symphonie n°5 Beethoven

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1967-01-09

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The Clouzot Scandal

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2017-10-17

Great filmmakers claim the artistic influence of French director Henri-Georges Clouzot...

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

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1966-01-01

Combining the forces of two of the 20th century's greatest musicians - Yehudi Menuhin and...

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Eroica

as Conductor
Released: 1972-06-14

A concert-film using innovative cinematic techniques to set music to images. As conductor...

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The Art of Conducting: Great Conductors of the Past

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1993-01-01

Documentary about sixteen great conductors of the 20th century.

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Karajan - Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies DVD

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2008-05-05

Symphonien Nos. 1 - 9 Gundula Janowitz · Christa Ludwig · Jess Thomas · Walter Berry Chor der...

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Beethoven Symphony No. 9

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1977-12-31

Karajan's very best video Beethoven 9th Symphony, recorded December 31, 1977. The Quartet of...

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Karajan: Beauty As I See It

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2008-05-10

With a career that includes a 35-year tenure as composer of the Berlin Philharmonic and record...

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Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Requiem

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1984-01-01

This installment in the "Karajan Legacy" series captures the acclaimed conductor leading the...

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Impressions of Herbert Von Karajan

as Self
Released: 1978-03-30

Reveals the life and current (1978) muses of Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan.

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Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Requiem

as uncredited
Released: 1967-01-01

Acknowledged to be the finest Karajan recording of this overwhelming sacred masterpiece —...

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

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1999-02-16

Famed conductor Herbert Von Karajan leads the Berlin Philharmonic in a performance of what may...

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

as uncredited
Released: 1999-10-26

This memorable concert marks Herbert von Karajan's final public appearance with the Berlin...

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Herbert Von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2003-01-01

This installment of the Herbert von Karajan: His Legacy series showcases the acclaimed conductor...

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Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2019-09-08

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Karajan: Portrait of a Maestro

as Self - Music Conductor (archive footage)
Released: 2019-09-22

An account of the life and work of controversial German orchestra conductor Herbert von Karajan...

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

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1977-12-31

The annual New Year’s Eve Concert is one of the highlights in the calendar of every classical...

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Wagner: Das Rheingold

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1978-05-31

This 1978 studio production of the prologue to Wagner's masterpiece is the only segment of the...

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Il Trovatore - Verdi

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1978-01-01

The gypsy Azucena (Fiorenza Cossotto) takes revenge for her mother who was accused of putting a...

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Beethoven - Symphony No. 7

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1971-01-01

Recording of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan playing...

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Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 4, 5 & 6

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2005-12-06

Herbert von Karajan directs the Berlin Philharmonic in an Italiannate take of Beethoven's Fourth...

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Herbert Von Karajan: Dvorák - Symphony No. 9

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1999-10-01

The Wiener Philharmoniker, conducted by Herbert Von Karajan, plays the music of Antonin Dvorak -...

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Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 1, 2 & 3

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2005-12-06

This set was recorded in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Herbert von Karajan is widely...

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Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1970-07-25

Opera's most popular double bill, fondly known as Cav and Pag, conducted by Herbert von Karajan....

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Karajan: Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 8

as Self
Released: 1985-01-01

World-renowned classical conductor Herber Von Karajan masterfully conducts Antonin Dvorak's...

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Beethoven · Missa Solemnis - Herbert von Karajan

as Direttore d'orchestra
Released: 2020-02-28

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Karajan - Bruckner - Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9

as Self
Released: 2007-01-01

Karajan - Bruckner - Symphonies No. 8 & 9

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Verdi – Messa da Requiem

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1967-01-01

Herbert von Karajan conducts La Scala Orchestra and Chorus with soloists Leontyne Price,...

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Brahms: The Symphonies

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1980-02-05

Karajan conducts these symphonies with eyes closed, often intently enraptured by the music,...

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Karajan: Beethoven - Symphonies 7, 8 & 9

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2005-10-24

Herbert von Karajan conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in these 3 great Beethoven...

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Karajan Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1978-01-01

This unique document from the 1978 Salzburg Festival has fortunately been released on DVD and is...

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

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2004-01-01

World-renowned conductor Herbert Von Karajan directs the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in this...

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Karajan conducts Ravel and Debussy

as Self
Released: 1979-02-15

Herbert von Karajan was a master of the fine blending of acoustic colours. This quality is shown...

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Karajan: Beethoven: Violin Concerto

as uncredited
Released: 1984-01-01

Conductor Herbert Von Karajan leading the Berlin Orchestra through Beethoven's Concerto in D...

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Herbert Von Karajan - New Year's Concert Vienna 1987

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1987-01-01

This recording of Karajan's 1987 New Year's Day Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic and the...

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Karajan in Rehearsal

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1965-03-04

Karajan conducts rehearsal and performance of Schubert's Symphony No. 4 with the Vienna Symphony...

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Rostropovich Life & Art

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2007-02-05

Released as a memorial for the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who passed away on...

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Beethoven - Symphony No. 5

as Self
Released: 1971-01-01

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Karajan dirigiert Beethovens fünfte Symphonie

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1973-06-14

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Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker 1987

as Self - Conductor
Released: 1987-01-03

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Karajan · Die Symphonien

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2005-10-31

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Karajan Tchaikovsky Symphonies 4, 5 & 6

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2007-05-09

The Symphonies were recorded live with a special recording concept by Herbert von Karajan, and...

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Herbert von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

as Self - Conductor
Released:

Austrian maestro Herbert von Karajan conducts the Berlin Philharmonic in this 1984 performance...

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Herbert Von Karajan: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

as Self - Conductor
Released: 2000-01-01

This installment of the Herbert von Karajan: His Legacy series showcases the acclaimed conductor...

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Karajan: New Year's Eve Concert

as uncredited
Released: 1978-12-31

Karajan had been appointed music director for life of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1955, and soon...

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Herbert von Karajan: Verdi: Don Carlo

as uncredited
Released: 1986-01-01

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Karajan: Opening Concert - Berlin 750 Years

as uncredited
Released: 2003-11-01

In this program filmed not long before the maestro's death, Herbert von Karajan -- renowned...

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Le Grand Échiquier

as Self - Main Guest
First aired: 1972-01-12

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Le Grand Échiquier

as Self
First aired: 1972-01-12

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Goldene Kamera Verleihung

as Self
First aired: 1966-01-25

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Zeugen des Jahrhunderts

as Self
First aired: 1979-09-23

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