“Karajan Digital Library” Volume 6 features Sibelius and Smetana

“I have often asked myself what it is that drew me to Sibelius’ music and I think it is that he is a composer who cannot really be compared to anyone else.”
Herbert von Karajan

Even in Karajan’s discography few of his interpretations have been so universally admired as his versions of works by Jean Sibelius. Deutsche Grammophon is now bringing out Volume 6 of its “Karajan Digital Library” containing the symphonies No 4 – 7, Karajan’s only recording of the superb violin concerto with Christian Ferras and the tone poems “Pelléas et Mélisande”, “Tapiola”, “Valse triste”, “The Swan of Tuonela” and the famous “Finlandia”. In line with the alphabetical arrangement of composers in the library, Sibelius is combined with recordings of Bedřich Smetana’s “Vyšehrad”, three dances from “The Bartered Bride” and – another all-time favourite – “Vltava (The Moldau)”. Read more here.

—  P.R. Jenkins