Beethoven, Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic is one of the most perfect combinations ever to have emerged from the classical music world. When the Ninth Symphony is performed at a New Year’s Eve concert, it becomes an even more spectacular event. Karajan’s rousing interpretation of Beethoven's most admired symphony has long acquired legendary status. Now Euroarts is releasing it in a recording made in Berlin’s Philharmonic Hall on New Year’s Eve 1977 in celebration of the conductor’s 100th birthday this year. Born in Salzburg on 5 April 1908, Herbert von Karajan was one of the most widely respected performing musicians appearing in the past century. He influenced fellow musicians and public taste for generations through his live appearances and recordings, especially in the role of Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, which he led for more than 30 years, moulding the orchestra into an ensemble of peerless power, tonal beauty and stylistic flexibility. The Ninth is an affirmation of optimism and beauty, written when Beethoven was almost completely deaf and the final movement is considered by many to be the composer's crowning glory. It had been Beethoven's lifelong dream to set Schiller's “Ode to Joy” to music, for the poem expressed the fulfilment of Beethoven's most passionate desire: peace and brotherhood in the world. Giving eloquent voice to this plea are the world-renowned soloists Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, René Kollo and José van Dam. This concert recording on DVD has all the elements that audiences came to expect from Karajan – strong, elegant conducting and a truly moving musical event.

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing.

01 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: I. Adagio molto - Allegro molto 12:30
02 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: II. Larghetto 10:40
03 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: III. Scherzo 3:48
04 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: IV. Allegro molto 6:41
05 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace 14:06
06 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto 8:46
07 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: III. Presto, assai meno presto 9:58
08 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: IV. Allegro con brio 9:16

英国指挥家 Simon Rattle 指挥维也纳爱乐演奏贝多芬交响曲，2002 年录音，2003 年发行。

Kurt Masur was a German conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and also served as music director of the New York Philharmonic.

Penguin Guide rosette.

古典樂派三大作曲家之一貝多芬，被譽為德國最具影響力的音樂家，多首由他所譜寫的樂章至今廣受歡迎。義大利小提琴家阿卡多配合國際知名的鋼琴演奏家喬治亞．托瑪西，重新詮釋貝多芬兩首小提琴奏鳴曲：A大調第9號小提琴奏鳴曲，作品47《克羅釆》和F大調第5號小提琴奏鳴曲，作品24《春天》。阿卡多以精湛的琴藝、細膩傳神的樂音與托瑪西清亮的琴音互相輝映，完美的交織與融合，呈現出貝多芬小提琴奏鳴曲的特色。