Karajan was the most recorded conductor in history. He would sometimes record two or three totally different programs in a single week...week after week. His complete DGG recordings (which this isn't) total 275 disks and I believe the Decca recordings fill another 100 or so. So, one may ask, what did he have to be humble about? He is widely seen as a meglomaniacal persona. BUT years ago I was the president of a local musical organization which presented recitals by famous artists in a remote and small town in Colorado. One night I picked up Walter Klien at his hotel. We had about 20 miles to drive and I spoke fluent German so I engaged him in conversation. One curiosity I had was about Karajan...with whom he had mentioned he had soloed. He said that Karajan was a very quiet and almost humble man surround by a huge PR organization that made him into something that Klien, at least, believed he really wasn't. I have shared this with others who have scoffed at the notion that he was not a megalomaniac, but in recent interviews with retired members of the BPO on DCH, each of them have confirmed Klien's assessment...independent from him and my personal experience...and independent of each other. In any event, the advanced romanticism of Tchaikovsky is something the Karajan communicated...both with the VPO (Decca) and the BPO (DGG)...for most of his career. Karajan was very much into beautiful orchestral sound and particularly this transcription of Romeo displays that in spades. I am pleased to have this ultra-clean recording from the Culshaw era with wonderfully balanced sound presented in pristine Hi-Rez digital. Who could ask for anything more?

This recording is excellent, both in interpretation and in sound.

Popular music, superbly played under Karajan - before he was swallowed by his own megalomania; and marvellous early Decca sound. Not a lot to dislike here!