Karajan and Brahms
Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)
Herbert von Karajan regularly conducted the works of Brahms, particularly the Symphonies and Ein deutsches Requiem, throughout his long career. He first conducted Symphony No 1 in Aachen in 1934 and it was in London on 6th October 1988 that he gave his last performance of the work.

“Indeed Karajan’s performances of the First Symphony were one of the glories of the 1980s.”
Richard Osborne 1994

“His last concerts in London, and in particular the Brahms symphonies which he presented two years ago, revealed a depth to his interpretations…………. Anyone who heard those performances would have no doubt about the magnitude of Karajan’s genius”
Richard Morrison “The Times” Monday July 17th 1989




Recordings

Double Concerto
1977 21st October (B.P.O. Brandis, Borwitzky) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1983 16th – 17th February (B.P.O. Mutter, Meneses) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1983 19th February (B.P.O. Mutter, Meneses) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1984 16th April (B.P.O. Mutter, Meneses) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg Click to hear short extract.

Ein deutsches Requiem
1947 20th October – 6th November (V.P.O. Schwarzkopf,Hotter with the Wiener Singverein) EMI: Vienna
1957 22nd August (V.P.O. Della Casa,Fischer-Dieskau with the Wiener Singverein) EMI: Salzburg
1964 16th – 18th May (B.P.O. Janowitz,Wachter with the Wiener Singverein) Deutsche Grammophon: Vienna
1968 11th April (B.P.O. Janowitz,Fischer-Dieskau with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1974 2nd June (B.P.O. Janowitz,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1976 26th September – 18th October (B.P.O. Tomowa-Sintow,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) EMI: Berlin
1976 13th November (B.P.O. Price,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: New York
1978 22nd March (B.P.O. Janowitz,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Deutsche Grammophon (Film): Salzburg
1978 24th March (B.P.O. Janowitz,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1983 4th – 8th May (V.P.O. Hendricks,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Deutsche Grammophon: Vienna
1983 4th – 8th May (V.P.O. Hendricks,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Telemondial (Film): Vienna
1983 15th August (V.P.O. Hendricks,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1985 May (V.P.O. Battle,Van Dam with the Wiener Singverein) Sony (Film): Vienna Note: Recording completed in June 1987.
1987 26th September (B.P.O. Cuberli,Grundheber with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1987 27th September (B.P.O. Cuberli,Grundheber with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1988 27th August (B.P.O. Cuberli,Grundheber with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1988 28th August (B.P.O. Reese,Grundheber with the Wiener Singverein) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg Note: Karajan’s final appearance at the Salzburg Festival.

Hungarian Dance No 1
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 3
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 5
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 6
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 17
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 18
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 19
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Hungarian Dance No 20
1959 4th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin

Piano Concerto No 2
1954 11th December (RAI Roma Anda) Joker (LP): Rome
1958 30th November – 1st December (B.P.O. Richter-Haaser) EMI: Berlin
1964 18th May (B.P.O. Backhaus) Cetra: Vienna
1967 18th – 20th September (B.P.O. Anda) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1968 28th September (B.P.O. Anda) Arkadia: Berlin
1975 19th May (B.P.O. Pollini) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg

Symphony No 1
1943 6th – 11th September (Concertgebouw) Deutsche Grammophon: Amsterdam
1952 5th May – 31st July (Philharmonia) EMI: London
1955 27th February (B.P.O.) Classical Collection: Washington
1959 23rd – 26th March (V.P.O). Decca: Vienna
1959 27th October (V.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1963 11th – 12th October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1967 5th September (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Edinburgh Click to hear short extract.
1970 23rd March (B.P.O.) Arkadia: Salzburg Note: CD incorrectly states Berlin.
1970 9th August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1972 14th October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Belgrade
1973 January – March (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon (Film): Berlin
1973 27th August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1974 18th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Click to hear short extract.
1974 13th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: New York
1975 19th May (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1975 3rd June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Paris Note: Recording incomplete.
1977/78 October – February (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1977 9th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Osaka
1977 13th December (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Aachen
1981 7th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1981 30th October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1981 6th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1983 19th February (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1983 28th August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1984 11th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1984 28th August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1984 23rd October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1984 12th December (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1987 23rd - 29th January (B.P.O.) Sony (Film): Berlin
1987 January (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1988 5th May (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1988 31st August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Lucerne
1988 6th October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Note: Karajan’s final London concert. Click to hear short extract.

Symphony No 2
1949 18th – 27th October (V.P.O.) EMI: Vienna
1952 6th December (RAI Roma) Radio Broadcast: Rome
1953 26th March (RAI Roma) Radio Broadcast: Rome Click to hear short extract.
1955 24th – 25th May (Philharmonia) EMI: London
1963 10th – 11th October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1968 30th September (B.P.O.) Arkadia: Berlin
1973 January – March (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon (Film): Berlin
1974 17th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Click to hear short extract.
1974 9th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: New York
1975 17th May (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1977 21st October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1977 October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon : Berlin
1981 31st October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1981 7th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1982 28th May (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1983 27th August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1985 26th January (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1985 30th April (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Paris
1986 15th - 19th June (B.P.O.) Sony (Film): Berlin
1986 June (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1986 31st August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Lucerne
1987 10th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Click to hear short extract.
1987 14th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Paris

Symphony No 3
1960 September (V.P.O.) Decca: Vienna
1964 28th – 30th September (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1967 unknown (B.P.O.) Unitel (Film): Berlin
1968 30th September (B.P.O.) Arkadia: Berlin
1973 January – March (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon (Film): Berlin
1974 18th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Click to hear short extract.
1974 13th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: New York
1975 18th May (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1977 October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon : Berlin
1981 30th October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1981 6th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1983 28th August (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1984 23rd October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1985 23rd February (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1985 30th April (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Paris
1988 22nd October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1988 October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1988 October (B.P.O.) Telemondial (Film): Berlin

Symphony No 4
1955 26th May (Philharmonia) EMI: London
1959 6th November (V.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1963 12th – 16th October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1968 28th September (B.P.O.) Arkadia: Berlin
1973 January – March (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon (Film): Berlin
1974 17th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Click to hear short extract.
1974 9th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: New York
1975 18th May (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1977 October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1981 31st October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1981 7th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Tokyo
1983 27th August (B.P.O.) Live Classics Best-Japan: Salzburg
1984 25th November (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1987 10th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: London Click to hear short extract.
1987 14th June (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Paris
1988 22nd October (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin
1988 October (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1988 October (B.P.O.) Telemondial (Film): Berlin

Tragic Overture
1961 5th – 22nd September (V.P.O.) Decca: Vienna
1970 September – October (B.P.O.) EMI: Berlin
1977/78 October – February (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1983 16th – 17th February (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1986 15th – 19th June (B.P.O.) Sony (Film): Berlin

Variations on a Theme of Haydn
1955 17th – 19th May (Philharmonia) EMI: London
1964 13th February (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1967 14th May (B.P.O.) Nuova Era: Florence
1976 26th September – 18th October (B.P.O.) EMI: Berlin
1983 February (B.P.O.) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin
1987 1st February (B.P.O.) Radio Broadcast: Berlin

Violin Concerto
1964 4th – 6th May (B.P.O. Ferras) Deutsche Grammophon : Berlin
1975 17th May (B.P.O. Shiokawa) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg
1976 6th – 7th March (B.P.O. Kremer) EMI: Berlin
1981 16th August (V.P.O. Mutter) Radio Broadcast: Salzburg Click to hear short extract.
1981 22nd September (B.P.O. Mutter) Deutsche Grammophon: Berlin




Concerts

As there are 533 Brahms works conducted or performed by Karajan only a summary follows below:

Double Concerto
1937-1984
17 Performances

Ein deutsches Requiem
1936-1988
50 Performances

Liebeslieder-Walzer
1938 and 1943
2 Performances
Note: Karajan playing the piano

Piano Concerto No 2
1938-1977
18 Performances

Piano Sonata No 3
1924
1 Performance
Note: Karajan playing the piano

Symphony No 1
1934-1988
143 Performances

Symphony No 2
1935-1988
134 Performances

Symphony No 3
1936-1988
50 Performances

Symphony No 4
1938-1988
61 Performances

Tragic Overture
1962
5 Performances

Variations on a Theme of Haydn
1955-1987
27 Performances

Violin Concerto
1935-1983
25 Performances