Most achingly-beautiful music

Jules Massenet's Intermezzo from Thaiis only played by Michel Schwalbe of the Berlin Philharmonic
Try to find the "flower" Label LP pressing of this great Karajan record of opera intermezzi. The LP was
KARAJAN: OPERN INTERMEZZI, DGG (138 OR 139 SERIES) 1968
BERLIN PHILHARMONIC. Do NOT get the EMI Intermezzi record, its not the same.
The playing is none finer .The version is one for all time.
Pure Magic. If you dont care for Karajan(his first Beethoven Cycle is still unsurpassed [early 60s], you will after this LP..........Frank

Hello Detlof, I have not listened to the Abbado Beethoven cycle, but I think that while Karajan was not exactly suited to Ravel, he really understood Ludwig Van in the first Stereo DGG cycle.
Carlos Kleiber had an outstanding 5 & 7 on DGG back in 75, that most critics praised as THE ONE. It is outstanding, and yet,and yet, I still cant let go of the Karajan magic on the 1963 cycle.
Do you or anyone here care to comment on the great Mahler symphonies? (1,2,3).
My choices are Horensten,(1st & 3rd, and what a third!!!!!on UNICORN LP & CD).
Bernstein, Kaplan( not a conductor per say, but a man who studied the "Resurrection" ad infinitum and probably knows more about the Mahler 2nd than even Lenny did. Produced an incredibly good 2nd on MCA records with libretto notes not found anywhere)...and Walter on the 2nd.
Solti also had an outstanding 1st on Decca. Good to see this place alive again. .........Frank