These performances of Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in C minor, recorded in 1963, and Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, "Spring," performed in 1971, by
Herbert von Karajan and the
Berlin Philharmonic, are sonorous and rich in orchestral colors, and only the most stubborn critics would deny the seductive power of the sound of these recordings. However,
Karajan's interpretation of the Brahms is surprisingly analytical and detached, not at all what is expected in this noble Romantic symphony, and there's a calculated approach to the timing and movement that emphasizes effect over emotion. The performance of the Schumann is considerably warmer and more spontaneous in feeling, and this suggests an increased rapport between
Karajan and the orchestra that yielded better music.