1April 5, 908 was a sunny Sunday, and the Ernst couple had another son, named Herbert Ritter von karajan, and later Herbert. Salzburg is a city with a strong musical atmosphere, Mozart's hometown, and the famous Salzburg Music Festival opens here every year. The karajan family love music very much. Father Ernst can play the piano and clarinet, and often participates in various activities of Mozart Conservatory Orchestra and Salzburg National Theatre. Musicians in this city are happy to associate with this family. In addition to taking their children to symphony concerts, fathers often hold small concerts at home. It is not difficult to understand that the two brothers have received piano training very early. The elder Wolfgang studied music first. By 19 12, when Herbert was 4 years old, he also began to learn piano with Franz Rudenka. He began to study the basics at the Mozart Conservatory of Music in Salzburg at the age of 8, which lasted 10 years. This kind of music education is multifaceted. In addition to continuing to study piano with Franz Ludwig, he also took part in chorus in the church choir in Salzburg, and he also studied harmony with Franz Sauer. It is worth mentioning that karajan's composer and chamber music teacher, Bernhard Paumgartner, quickly discovered karajan's potential and showed his fatherly concern. Karajan often drives his teacher's military motorcycle in the countryside. Baungatler not only aroused karajan's interest in painting and sculpture, but also encouraged karajan to take the road of command later. In fact, parents are Herbert's most important teachers. In karajan's family, sons should address their parents with "you" (German: Sie, which is a German honorific title). Ernst is a rigorous person. He walks to work for 25 minutes every day, thinking about the coming operation on the way. This style undoubtedly deeply influenced Herbert in the future, and made him form the habit of being fully prepared for everything. Mom is a kind person. When karajan 12 years old, he once slipped while climbing stairs and fell from a place 20 meters high. His ankle and spine were injured, and his legacy is lifelong. His mother Marta's concern and care for him is touching. According to karajan's account, he was once called a "prodigy" because of his precocity in piano, but he never worked hard for this title. After five years of piano lessons, karajan finally performed as a pianist for the first time on1917 65438+1October 27th. Two years later, on October 26th, 65438/KLOC-0, he played this concerto as a soloist with the accompaniment of his teacher Ben Gatler. ( 1926 — 1929)

But it seems that these small musical achievements can't make his parents make up their minds that young karajan will make a living by music in the future. Marta's mother always wanted karajan to be a bank clerk. His pragmatic father once advised him, "I know you have a talent for music, but you must learn some practical skills to make a living." In order to comply with his father's wishes, karajan completed his graduation thesis Thermodynamics and Internal Combustion Engine in 1926 and went to Vienna to study at Vienna Polytechnic University. However, he did not leave music, but insisted on studying, so while studying technology, he also enrolled in the Music Science Department of Vienna University and studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts. In Vienna, he studied piano with his new teacher, josef hofmann. At the same time, he learned his future career from Alexander Wendell and Franz Schalke for the first time: conducting. Young karajan possessed all the musical talents of a pianist at that time. But later, like robert schumann, karajan's tendon sheath was badly injured. Even though he made some absurd attempts to restore it, it didn't get better, which forced him to stop on the road to pianist and turn to the future of conductor.

Alexander Wendell has a certain influence in Vienna's music life, but as a teacher, he may not be competent. Karajan's command knowledge mainly comes not from teachers, but from professional practice itself. But karajan learned very important things in Vienna, opera repertoire and even more rare-the top opera performance in Vienna at that time: karajan didn't have much chance to conduct band practice at that time, but he and his classmates tried to kill time.

1928 12 17, karajan ushered in his first directorial debut, conducting a college band to play the overture of Rossini's opera William Tell. But he may realize that it was difficult for him to find a job in Vienna under the unknown circumstances at that time, so he decided to go back to Salzburg and give it a try. More than a month later, in order to show his talent, the young conductor made a public appearance in his hometown. He invited and directed the Orchestra of Mozart Conservatory of Music, whose works were Don Juan by Strauss and Symphony No.5 by Tchaikovsky. The performance was a great success, and karajan won the opportunity for himself-the manager of Ulm City Theatre invited him to audition in his own theater. After listening to karajan's instructions, the manager decided to hire the young man to conduct opera in the theater with a monthly salary of about $20. At that time, karajan told the manager that he had never conducted any opera, and he had to study it before accepting the job. The manager simply replied, "No problem, just come and study." Thus, the post of Ulm became the official starting point of karajan's command career. ( 1934 — 1945)

1933 When the Nazi Party came to power, German musical talents declined sharply. That year, Bruno Walter, klemperer, erich kleiber and Fritz Bush were forced to leave Germany. Composers of Jewish descent were banned, and Mendelssohn, Mahler or Schoenberg were among them. However, Hindemity's opera "The Painter Matisse" was banned, so Futvingler made a big fuss about the Nazis, resigned from all his tenure and temporarily retired at the age of 47.

In 1934, karajan got an important position-concert director and opera director of Aachen City Theatre shortly after these incidents. This theater is taller than Ulm's. There are more than 70 orchestras and 300 choirs. The choirs are led by Wilhelm Pitz, who will become famous in the choral world in the future. With such talent, karajan couldn't wait to play Wagner's The Ring of Nibelungen. Aachen is also a springboard from karajan to Berlin and Vienna. On August 2nd165438, he played Debussy and Ravel's works at a private party with Vienna Philharmonia Orchestra for the first time. On April 1935, karajan was appointed as the music director of Aachen Municipal Theatre. At the age of 27, karajan became the youngest German music director. However, karajan had to make a compromise: he was forced to join the Nazi Party.

1 937 June1day, karajan was invited by Bruno Walter to perform in vienna state opera for the first time. This play is Wagner's Tristan and isolde. This is a great victory. However, karajan also experienced the hard working conditions of the Vienna Opera House: the big rehearsal was cancelled, and the protagonists sang a few words in the small rehearsal and then left to do some private affairs. From 1956 to 1964, karajan will realize these difficulties more truly. 1937, karajan was invited to conduct an orchestra in Berlin, but karajan refused because the orchestra could not give him any rehearsal time. But soon, 1938, the band agreed to karajan's request and rehearsed before the performance. So karajan cooperated with this orchestra for the first time on April 8th, conducting Mozart's hafner Symphony ("hafner", namely Symphony No.35), Ravel's No.2 Daphne and Chloe Suite and Brahms Symphony No.4 ... and this orchestra is Berlin Philharmonic who will cooperate with karajan for 35 years in the future.

Personally, karajan married Amy Hoglov, the first female operetta singer in Aachen, on July 26th, 1938, and they owned a house in the woods near Aachen. But karajan is more concerned about his career. The friendly relationship between Hoglov and Madame Goering helped karajan enter Berlin. 1938 On September 30th, he got the opportunity to conduct at the Berlin National Opera House. This play is Beethoven's Federio. At 10, 2 1, it was karajan's moment of victory. Tristan and isolde, which he directed, caused an international sensation. Van der Nur, a Berlin music critic, called it "karajan".

With or without Van der Nur's comments, karajan began to make a name for himself in Berlin. Although he was rejected by Berlin Philharmonic under Futvingler's control, karajan succeeded in establishing himself in Berlin. In June1939+065438+1October, he accepted the positions of director of Berlin National Opera House and concert director of Prussia National Orchestra. He also performed his opera Elektra in front of Richard Strauss on February 1940, which was recognized by the composer. Karajan has also been to occupied Paris to perform Wagner's works. Moreover, his recording career is about to begin, and he signed the first contract with the German record company until 1943. Karajan's first official recording was conducting the Berlin National Orchestra to play Mozart's "Magic Flute" overture (these early recordings were collected and distributed by DG Company). ( 1945 — 1954)

Although World War II ended in 1945, karajan's semi-retirement seems to be endless because of the allied forces' investigation on the identity of its former Nazi party members and the obstruction of Futvingler. He was banned from performing in Germany and Austria. But there is one exception.

: 1946 65438+ 10/2 karajan's Friends of the Vienna Philharmonic Association cooperated with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He was invited to direct Mozart's The Wedding of Figaro and Richard Strauss's der rosenkavalier, but at the insistence of the Soviet Union, the performance was forced to be cancelled at the last minute. Fortunately, karajan got the help of two people at this time, walked out of the predicament and made a successful comeback. One was Walter Legg, the producer of classical music records of EMI. The other is karajan's mentor and conductor Victor de Sabata.

1947 From 10 to 12, karajan collaborated with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to record Beethoven's Symphony No.8 and Symphony No.9 for EMI (the chorus of the latter was performed by the Vienna Chorus, which first cooperated with karajan in June of that year) and Schubert's.

After non-Nazism, karajan soon became one of the pillars of European music life. 1948 The schedule is tight. Karajan not only started cooperation with Lucerne International Music Festival (except 1988 and 1960), but also participated in Salzburg Music Festival, including Gluck's Oflo and Ayudik, Mozart's The Wedding of Figaro, and two concerts with tracks by Haydn, Richard Strauss, Beethoven and Brahms. As for his position, on the one hand, he accepted the positions of lifelong artistic director of Vienna Singing Association and chief conductor of Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and cultivated them into first-class music groups. On the other hand, in London, he worked closely with Philharmonia Orchestra, who teamed up with Li Ge, and made a series of famous records in the following years, such as Schumann's piano concerto with pianist Lipatti, Mozart's horn concerto with French horn player dennis brain. He and his wife Elizabeth Schwartz Kopf recorded a series of operas: Bat, Fastaf, hansel and Gretel, Ariadne of Naxos and der rosenkavalier, as well as his first complete Beethoven symphony. 1952, he led the band to travel to Europe for the first time.

From 1949, karajan began to cooperate frequently with Scala Opera House in Milan and became the director of its German performance season. Karajan was meticulous in opera production and rehearsed for several months. So there, although he only puts one or two operas on the stage every year, it is wonderful. It is worth mentioning that karajan has cooperated with maria callas, who is known as the "goddess of opera", several times here, such as 1954, the famous lucia Di Lammermore, and left recordings of operas such as bard and Madame Butterfly for EMI.

1949, karajan once again conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Music Friends Association Choir to perform the works of Verdi and Beethoven at the Salzburg Music Festival. Not only the music festival in my hometown, but also Bayreuther waved to karajan. 195 1 This weather-beaten Wagner Music Festival reopened after the war. That year's music festival was a veritable event. Wagner's two grandsons Whelan Wagner and Wolfgang Wagner took office for the first time. Famous Wagner singers from all over the world gathered together. Canapi Bush showed the audience the unique charm of his interpretation of Wagner's works-parsifal. Futvingler was also present to conduct Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which will be unforgettable for future generations. As a younger generation, karajan conducted the whole play "The Famous Singer of Nuremberg" on the opening night of the music festival on July 27th, and jointly conducted "The Ring" with Canapi Bush. The following year, karajan went to Bayreuther again to conduct Tristan and isolde. Both appearances were recorded and received rave reviews. Among them, The Singer of Nuremberg and Tristan and isolde are even considered as the best interpretations of karajan. But after these two successful performances, karajan never re-entered the stage of Bayreuth. After the war, Berlin Philharmonic experienced several crises, except that the band itself needed to be rebuilt and its personnel needed to be supplemented, and the chief conductor problem always needed to be solved. First, the chief conductor Leo borchardt was shot dead by soldiers in the occupied area, and then the young sergiu celibidache took over briefly. Futvingler returned from 1947, but under the influence of various internal and external factors, he did not make up his mind to be the chief conductor of the orchestra until 1952. But Futvingler is out of his depth at this time. His deafness is getting more and more serious, so Siemens needs to install line equipment for the podium so that he can hear the sound of the band. In addition, Futvingler is unpopular and has strained relations with other commanders. As early as 1954,165438+130, the Berlin Philharmonic had to consider the issue of his successors. The candidates were all capable people in the command field at that time: Klutan, Cheribidach, Jochum, Schuricht and karajan.

Furtwangler returned to the stage on 1948, which also means that karajan was forbidden to enter the main entrance until Vienna, Berlin and Salzburg. In addition, karajan is busy with work, so he has only sporadic opportunities to contact Berlin Philharmonic.

1953-54, the cooperation between karajan and Berlin Philharmonic became more and more frequent. They not only recorded Beethoven's heroic symphony, but also participated in Festwochenkonzert together. These performances were warmly appreciated by music critics at that time.

After this short run-in, it is only a matter of time before karajan succeeds. 1954165438+1On October 30th, Futvingler died, which was the eve of Berlin Philharmonic's trip to the United States. Karajan is in a hotel in Rome. His secretary handed him an anonymous telegram from Vienna, which read "Death is death, long live death" (French: Lao Wang is dead, long live the new owner. ) The very next day, Berlin Philharmonic's manager gerhardt von Wuestemann immediately called karajan and asked him to be the chief conductor of the orchestra. Westman may make this call for many reasons. One of them is that new york's party in charge of the orchestra's visit to the United States called him and said: Unless karajan conducts it, the orchestra's visit to the United States is impossible.

As for karajan, this band is exactly what he wants to have day and night. He once said: "I must get this band, because his quality fascinates me and I know what I will achieve with this band." I want a lifetime contract for only one reason: I want to spend a lot of time with this band so that he can finally unite with me. I can't let a new congressman end our cooperative relationship with just one sentence. I must admit that this band has grown into what I dreamed of after decades of growth. "

But he is still under Scala's contract. Therefore, karajan interviewed his friend and boss, Ghiringhelli, who knew the significance of Berlin Philharmonic to karajan and readily agreed to karajan's job-hopping.

On the other hand, members of Berlin Philharmonic also voted for the appointment of karajan, which means that karajan will lead the orchestra to perform in the United States. However, karajan put forward a condition at this time, that is, he will be given the appointment documents before leaving, and his appointment will be formally confirmed.

1955 At the beginning of this year, the couple embarked on a journey to a new world. The sponsor of this trip is German Chancellor Adenauer. However, just a week before the orchestra and karajan arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in new york, a wave of opposition almost killed the American tour. The American Musicians' Union and "Local 802" published an article on the front page of The New York Times on February 20th, entitled "Musicians Oppose the Nazi-led Berlin Orchestra to Hold a Concert here". In fact, from February 8 to February 27, the orchestra officially started its visit to the United States in Washington, and The New York Times reported on the protest against karajan's Nazi identity in wartime almost every day. Westman declared one day after the publication of the article "Local 802" that although he and karajan did join the Nazi Party, it was only to continue working at that time. Although this statement is more to incite the opposition. However, these objections eventually failed simply because the trip was funded by the West German government.

On February 25th, the orchestra arrived in America, and everything was calm. Karajan just made a brief statement about all this: "I don't talk about politics, I just came here as a musician." Karajan and Berlin Philharmonic moved American audiences and music critics with their voices in the next six weeks. They performed in Washington, Carnegie Hall in new york, Cincinnati and Baltimore. Music reviews are generally positive. The protests culminated in new york's performance. Some people protested outside Carnegie's gate, and some people released pigeons with anti-slogans. But even so, performance has not been affected.

This trip to America is a real probation period. Karajan should hand in papers from three aspects: first, the audience and music critics; Second, Berlin Philharmonic; Third, the West German government. Not only in art, but also in morality and politics, karajan must be mature (for example, whether his words and deeds in the United States are appropriate and whether he will be suppressed by opposition) in order to show that he can be qualified for the post of chief of Berlin Philharmonic. Karajan lived up to expectations. As early as March 5th, when karajan and his party were still in Pittsburgh, it was reported that most members of the orchestra voted for karajan to be their fourth permanent conductor. A few days after he and the band returned to Germany, their appointment was confirmed by the Berlin government. Karajan was once again asked if he was willing to follow in the footsteps of Futvingler and lead Berlin Philharmonic. He replied, "I accept it gladly." Then, Berlin Philharmonic's scepter finally reached karajan after Hans von Piro, Nikisch and Futvingler. From 1956 to 197 1, karajan is hot in Europe. He first became the artistic director of Salzburg Music Festival, which lasted for four years. 1957, he not only led Berlin Philharmonic to visit Japan for the first time, but also accepted the appointment as the artistic director of vienna state opera, so as to change the declining trend of this historic opera house. His titles also include: 1967, life conductor of Berlin Philharmonic, life director of Vienna Singing Association, one of the chief conductors of Scala Opera House in Milan, and music consultant of Paris Philharmonic Orchestra from Charles Munch's death 1969 to197.

1959, karajan not only toured with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in India, the Philippines, Hong Kong and the United States in the autumn of 1959, but also recorded for DG Company again, and made his first stereo record "A Hero's Life in Richard strauss" in cooperation with Berlin Philharmonic, which also marked the beginning of long-term cooperation between Berlin Philharmonic, karajan and German record company Tiesanjiao. At that time, although karajan had a recording contract with EMI, Berlin Philharmonic signed a contract with a German record company. Therefore, the contract needs to be revised so that the pair can record two brands at the same time. The recording activity of EMI's karajan lasted until 1984, and many operas were recorded, as well as some works that have never been recorded for DG, such as Schubert's complete symphonies.

With the support of Berlin Philharmonic and major record companies, karajan began to record orchestral works of classical music in a planned way. However, during the three years from 1959 to 6 1, he only carefully recorded some orchestral exhibition tracks, such as Brahms' Hungarian Dance and Anthony dvorak's Slavic Dance, as well as some dance music by Delhi and Chopin, but once these recordings were made, they became classics. By the end of June1,karajan finally started to make a big move, recording a full set of Beethoven symphonies for DG Company, which was completed in 1962, commonly known as "red card". Today, even though there are countless Beethoven complete symphonies on the market, this record is still dazzling and highly appreciated. In fact, when karajan took over Berlin Philharmonic, he had already begun to prepare for the recording. On the eve of his first trip to America, he rehearsed for the fifth time. He played "No.7" three times in 55-59. Before recording, he read other symphonies at least once in the concert except the second and eighth symphonies.

Similarly, karajan and the orchestra also recorded the Brandenburg Concerto by Brahms' complete symphonies and Bach in 1963 and 1964. Berlin Philharmonic finally welcomed his home-Berlin Philharmonic Hall in June1963+1October 65438+May. This hall was built according to the technical standards of karajan. As Wagner did for the opening ceremony of reuter Festival Theatre, karajan conducted the orchestra to play Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as a celebration.