Hajimemashite !! Please excuse my English. I can read Japanese, but there's no way that I write Japanese, that on my keyboard !! Many thanks for this marvellous site, and your passion for Karajan just mind-boggles me. I find your compilations of his recordings, filmography and the books particularly invaluable. I have so long a way to go !!!
Being a Karajan enthusiast myself, I have cherished one question for a long time but find it hard to share opinion on this quest around me here in Seoul, KOREA. I've always thought that Karajan's recordings made during almost over a decade (say from mid 60's till the end of 70's) represent probably the culmination of the orchestra sound in the history of the musical performance, but his recordings in 50's or 80's have less persuaded me that he's in the best possible shape, as he was in the 70's. Of course it's hard to generalize this way because there're so many recordings and exceptions do exist clearly, but it's pretty clear to me as a whole. I'm thinking of Tosca, Mahler 5/6, Bruckner 8/9, Don Carlos, Salome, Parsifal among others.
My question is that is it just me alone, or are there any such opinions exist among the other Karajan enthusiasts around the world. OK, for such a giant as Karajan, a mere listner like me have such an opinion sounds a 'bakana goto', but being a serious listner I think I'm entitled to have my own opinion ! And the question is am I the only one, or are there any others who share this opinion.. I know that my question is a perplexing one, especially for a die-hard Karajan enthusiast like you, but I'd highly appreciate if you could shed a light on my question, and share your opinion on this issue.