Herbert von Karajan in Rehearsal and Performance.(Video recording review)

Herbert von Karajan in Rehearsal and Performance. DVD. Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. [Germany]: EuroArts, 2006, 1965. 2072118. $24.99.

This is one of a thirteen-part series, Die Kunst der Dirigierens (The Art of the Conductor). Glenn Gould described this rehearsal footage of the Karajan approach as a revelation to concert goers. Karajan worked with the French film director Henri-Georges Clouzot and his director of photography, Armand Thirard, to create this experimental collaboration. Karajan had doubts about this project but Clouzot persuaded Karajan that they would present him as a dedicated and intensely practical musician.

The disc includes rehearsals and performances of Schumann's Symphony no. 4 in D Minor, op. 120 with the Vienna Symphony in November 1965, and Beethoven's Symphony no. 5 in C Minor, op. 67 with the Berlin Philharmonic recorded in January 1966. Also included is an interview with Karajan by Joachim Kaiser.

Karajan's beginning downbeats in rehearsal for the Schumann in a ff passage are huge, sweeping movements, stretching his arms as far up as they can reach and bringing them down like a karate chop, or an executioner. In quiet passages, his fingers coax the sound out of his orchestra.

Karajan expresses concerns about the line, legato, ostinato character (succession of equal sounds), hearing all themes when more than one is present, contrast, attention to bow change, rhythmic precision, and special emphasis. He illustrates with hand and arm motions how the bow should be played to achieve his desired result. One time he asks the orchestra to play the Presto section through slowly.

The Schumann performance begins with the recording light turned on, then the recorder, and finally a shot of the timpani beginning. The ...