Karajan conducts Beethoven's 9th as '77 dies — pure sonic cathedral.
The annual New Year’s Eve Concert is one of the highlights in the calendar of every classical music fan in Berlin and beyond. On New Year‘s Eve, the Berliner Philharmoniker invite an exceptional soloist for a festive gala. Together, the musicians bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. The 1977 concert was conducted by Herbert von Karajan and featured Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and the Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin.
Direction
Karajan's baton: minimal, absolute control.
Sound
That 'Ode to Joy' wall of sound.
Production
1977 TV broadcast = grainy gold.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Karajan's 26th New Year's Eve concert with the Berlin Phil; he began the tradition in 1971.
Beethoven's 9th became East and West Germany's shared anthem in 1989 — this 1977 performance predates that unity by twelve years.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
