Herbert von Karajan is considered by many as the greatest conductor of the 20th century. To this day, he also remains the world's top-selling classical recording artist. The Maestro's legacy, however, has often been a subject of heated discussions fueled by his highly publicized affiliation with the Nazi Party during WW2. Nevertheless, many of his recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic, and especially the Berlin Philharmonic, which he led for thirty-five years (1954-1989), are still regarded as the best in the classical repertoire. On January 28th, 2008 the Berlin Philharmonic celebrated the 100th anniversary of Herbert von Karajan's birth with an impressive concert at Wiener Musikverein, Vienna, Austria. Led by Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, the Berlin Philharmonic performed Beethoven's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major (with guest soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter), Bach's Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor: Sarabande and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B minor "Pathetique". Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major - Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Berlin Philharmonic deliver an inspiring performance of Mozart's timeless masterpiece. Maestro Ozawa's leadership is certainly felt throughout the concerto, but it is Anne-Sophie Mutter's flawless technique that impresses. The Larghetto in particular is incredibly moving - the "dialog" between the violin and the bassoon in the opening bars is most beautiful. Sarabande - Yet another highly impressive performance by violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter! Her treatment of Bach's work is gentle and notably lyrical. The sense of calmness the lonely violin exudes is fantastic. Symphony No. 6 in B minor "Pathetique - Without a doubt, this is the real treat in this memorable concert (Maestro Ozawa conducted "Pathetique" for Orchestre de Paris very early in his career [Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov, March 13, 2009]). The Berlin Philharmonic breeds new life into this epic work regarded by many as Tchaikovsky's masterpiece.
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