Karajan documentary! BBC4 Friday 5th December 2014 at 1930-2100

[Nick Armstrong]

Recorded!

[Petrushka]

Recorded!

Ditto!

[DracoM]

Merely confirms what I have always thought: the man was a monster.

[Nick Armstrong]

Merely confirms what I have always thought: the man was a monster.

Paging Dr. Karafan!

[Beef Oven!]

Merely confirms what I have always thought: the man was a monster.

Good to see we are all keeping an open mind on things!

[Stanley Stewart]

Karajan documentary

I found the programme a well- balanced portrait which also complements Robert Dornhelm's full length documentary of 2008 with only the occasional duplication. The fundamental loneliness of the man is more fully presented in Richard Osborne's biography, HvK, A Life in Music where a childlike simplicity lies behind the sophistry and erudition.

[Conchis]

Not bad at all. I was prepared to switch off when they mentioned the 'N' word but was pleased to her it had only been brought up so that Peter Alward (and others) could rebut it.

I don''t think HvK came across as monstrous at all: he seemed full of unselfish love for the European Union Youth Orchestra.

Also got the impression all those lady string players from the Philharmonia would have happily gone to bed with him if they'd had the chance...:)

[Bryn]

A pompous narcissist, but he was good at conducting Honegger's 2nd and 3rd Symphonies. Tired of his Bruckner, Brahms and Beethoven long ago. Polished to a shine and full of detail, but ... . Still, he was right about Toscanini. Fancy choosing that Rite of Spring clip, given the composer's withering comments re. Karajan's handling of the work.

[Beef Oven!]

A pompous narcissist, but he was good at conducting Honegger's 2nd and 3rd Symphonies. Tired of his Bruckner, Brahms and Beethoven long ago. Polished to a shine and full of detail, but ... . Still, he was right about Toscanini. Fancy choosing that Rite of Spring clip, given the composer's withering comments re. Karajan's handling of the work.

Karajan put that right with his later recording of Rite. One of the best, IMV.

[visualnickmos]

I very much enjoyed the programme. The impression that I have now, of HvK, is that he was a rather sad, unhappy and quite possibly an unfulfilled man - almost as if he actually DIDN'T have much self-esteem. He constantly strived to rectify this in his projects, for example, and its manifestations became ever-more extreme and quite frankly - bizarre - as time went on. Forcing orchestral players to wear wigs! I ask you - is that 'normal' behaviour???

I can't say that he came across as a man I would have liked, or that I approve of the 'way he was' but think what one may - imagine how less rich and colourful the world of music would have been, and would be, had he not existed.

As far his recorded output goes, I own some - not that many at all, but I have been very selective in those that I do have. I have heard, but don't possess, plenty of recordings that do absolutely nothing for me.....

[ardcarp]

The film seemed to fall into two halves. The first (doting lady fiddlers notwithstanding) dwelt on the huge ego, the ruthlessness, the wealth and the playboy. The second became increasingly sentimental, the theme being that genius can excuse everything, and here I felt Bridcut went slightly OTT. I didn't mind (in the first half) his technique of 'well-known-figures-emoting' to Karajan recordings. I was particularly struck by Marriner's reaction. He clearly did not like the super-polished, slick Don Juan! OTOH, I just loved Galway, the wag!

I have occasionally worked under a conductor who commands respect that borders on fear. Results can be amazing, but do the ends justify the means? That is presumably the question left hanging over Karajan'st legacy.

[Conchis]

One of the most surprising stories in Richard Osborne's biography is Karajan's close identification with the 'hero' of de Sica's Bicycle Thieves. I think he genuinely saw himself as the underdog, however the world perceived him.

I've yet to come across any compelling or documented evidence of his 'narcissism', though it's probably fair to say he was a man who had a taste for power and knew hot to exercise it.

[Beef Oven!]

I've yet to come across any compelling or documented evidence of his 'narcissism', though it's probably fair to say he was a man who had a taste for power and knew hot to exercise it.

I agree. He was a power-driven man. He knew what he wanted and that was all that mattered. Calling him narcissistic or pompous is wrong, IMV. That wasn't what he was about.

[Karafan]

Paging Dr. Karafan!

Hah! Quite. I thought it rather well balanced and an insight into a human being, with faults and frailties such as we all possess. It was interesting to see the old Philharmonia players, recalling their days with him (a bizarre hair colour or two notwithstanding!).

What puzzled me was no interview with Richard Osborne, though I see he was credited. Also the use of much poor quality video footage was odd, given that both Butterfly and the Schumann rehearsal film have been remastered in HD for BluRay (and jolly good they look too).

K

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

a most engaging and informative film ... i am sure another side or three could be highlighted of such a talented and complex personality

[see also the documentary on Prince also on BBC4 this evening for another example of the Wagnerian artist - in complete control of every detail ... ]

from my read of the film this man did not worship himself, he worshipped the muse and sought its fullest expression with a dedication that said any thing less was an insult to the gods .. aloof, controlling, hyperactive .... such talent is not found in nice rounded and balanced personalities

i must say that the film made me want to scour emusic for those early Philharmonia recordings!