Herbert von Karajan’s Beethoven First and Second symphonies, with their brisk pacing and light-textures, sound closer to today’s style than indicated by their 1962 vintage. Symphony No. 1 proceeds with a sparkling energy and breezy flow in the outer movements, performance aspects that became noticeably stiffer in the conductor’s 1983 final recording. The Second has similar attributes, though Karajan’s somewhat solemn approach to the slow movement is a relic of the era. The Berlin Philharmonic performs with refreshing alacrity and impressive virtuosity. To be sure, you won’t hear the vibrant, raw impact of today’s “authentic” renditions, but Karajan’s refusal to burden these pieces with the weight of Beethoven’s later style, as well as the orchestra’s smart execution, makes this one of the more successful installments of his first stereo cycle. Deutsche Grammophon’s SACD remastering presents a clear, solidly three-dimensional sound-image.
