The Complete Official

Wow! £202.. I purchased the set some time ago and paid considerably less. In fact, the current Amazon price better reflects the artistry/genius contained within this substantial box-set. The box contains some of Karajan's finest recordings which have been remastered by Warner - I prefer some of the earlier EMI remasters. However, let that not dissuade purchase; differences in remastered sound quality can be subjective and dependent on one's audio equipment, and after all it's the music which is paramount. No words can do justice to the music in this set... the box includes some of the finest recordings ever committed to disc, conducted by Herbert von Karajan at the peak of his powers Recordings from an age before political correctness, globalization, multi-culturalism and the "nanny state" emasculated and destroyed strong national and cultural identity. Karajan said something about the military and music needing a dictatorship. Karajan was right! Just take a listen to most of the new releases from certain conductors - you know, the new names and their Bruckner and Mahler recordings... weak and ineffective, not to mention incompetent. Where are today's Reiners, Szells, Furtwanglers, Klemperers..... and, yes, Karajans! We shall not see their like again - fact! Purchase this box and hear classical music played with a passion, energy, commitment and intelligence that is all too rare nowadays. They say the best things in life are free, but that's not always the case - this box will cost £202 and that's money well spent.

Say what you may about Karajan: and I think he is the victim of much snobbery: he did produce many, probably too many, great recordings. These with Decca seem to represent Karajan at his peak. Each recording is beautifully packaged and the box is strong. A little bit over-priced but a lovely thing to own and listen to. I copied to my hard-drive and found one disc would not rip. However: it matters not. I will view these as a treat rather like listening to vinyl but without the oft-forgotten warps, clicks, vulnerability to damage, and surface nose that used to spoil my listening experience. Vinyl is a lovely product to own but that aside: todays digital sound is, in my view, impeccable.

What can I say this box set is highly recommended whether you like or did like Karajan. It is a give away bargain at such a price and the price will increase in times.The sound of these CD is marvellous and Warner hiss and all the frying bacon oor egg sound that was on previous EMI box set.I am currently listening to Mozart horn concerto by Dennis Brain and guess no his and sound is crystal clear.My humble opinion is to buy this box even if you have the EMI and the EMI box set away and enjoying this box set in glorious sound and Warner classic should be comm ended for realising this box set at such a bargain price.

Astonishing! The sound quality of these discs is,in the main, remarkable as is the playing. It was into the seventh box when the level altered, and that didn’t last long. 1946! Surely not. I had bought the Rachmaninov playing Rachmaninov and the sound on those discs was awful. This Karajan set, all for just over a pound a disc, is a delight.

Prompt service. I am a CD collector of Karajan.

Some real gems in the various boxes but rather too much of the EMI recordings from the early fifties which are in rather dim sound which gets trying after a while. If only K and the Philharmonia had recorded for Decca! But then there would have been no Walter Legge.

A very well presented set of Karajan’s excellent Decca recordings. Having owned earlier remasterings of most of the pieces included here, I believe the sound engineers have improved upon the work of Messrs Culshaw & Co significantly.

Karajan never sounded so good. Love the Richard Strauss recordings. Great set. Karajan at his best.