Karajan's Magic and Myth
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Over twenty-five years after his death in July 1989, the controversial Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan remains an enigma. He was the most successful conductor in the history of classical music. Many of his recordings - of Italian opera, of Wagner and Richard Strauss, of Sibelius, Beethoven and Brahms - are treasured by music lovers around the world. Yet, even at the peak of his fame, his performances were variously criticised for being too opulent, too manicured, lacking warmth or spiritual depth. This musical profile explores the many paradoxes in the life and music of this controversial figure, who forged his international reputation in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra shortly after the end of the Second World War and went on to reign supreme in the classical music world during his three decades with the Berlin Philharmonic. The film also examines Karajan's belief in the visual power of music, and his determination to leave behind a substantial legacy of music on film.
Cast
![Plácido Domingo](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//r0OUJ630b7dllOFBQ4SElP3XnpC.jpg)
Plácido Domingo
Self
![Anne-Sophie Mutter](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//qkURfn7HyD6DzEi3qCPgkRwK0Xl.jpg)
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Self
![Jessye Norman](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//67lfZQ79OMusxrXnEDq00IWHryF.jpg)
Jessye Norman
Self
![James Galway](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//qILo7MpkINn9JYfOajniyhMp1Rp.jpg)
James Galway
Self
![Mark Elder](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//wTR8N0JGrui4WAOxVF0TbK0xs62.jpg)
Mark Elder
Self
![Neville Marriner](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Neville Marriner
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![Nikolaus Harnoncourt](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//tkitTZcuAjS98Ogz59BjYnLcovm.jpg)
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
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![Ernst Wild](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Ernst Wild
Self
![Kathleen Sturdy](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Kathleen Sturdy
Self
![Michael Hampe](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//rn7dnuMeZI4ZvZXjtaGDlN5e0cK.jpg)
Michael Hampe
Self
![Simon Rattle](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//erFlB9B08lVMhEj70bLUpkr28iA.jpg)
Simon Rattle
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![Lore Salzburger](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Lore Salzburger
Self
![Peter Alward](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Peter Alward
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![Andreas Blau](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Andreas Blau
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![Gunther Breest](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Gunther Breest
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![Clemens Hellsberg](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Clemens Hellsberg
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![Hansjorg Schellenberger](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Hansjorg Schellenberger
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![Gillian Eastwood](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Gillian Eastwood
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![Humphrey Burton](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w200//rTOVJuijpOSvA8BdVCZwZlWVVrq.jpg)
Humphrey Burton
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![Pierrette Galeone](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Pierrette Galeone
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![Peter Carter](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
Peter Carter
Self
![David Bell](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)
David Bell
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![Klaus Stoll](/_next/static/media/notFound.aecd17f8.png)