Works concerning Herbert von Karajan

Waldstein: The definitive biography. Massive, meticulously researched and supremely readable. Not without its share of faults and omissions, but far superior to any other work in any language.

Waldstein: Very well written and rather perceptive biographical portrait (not a biography!) that captures Karajan's life and work in the early 1980s with unprecedented vividness. The rest is poorly researched and unreliable, though. Vaughan's attitude covers the whole range from wicked irreverence to hardly qualified admiration.

Waldstein: A little book of "musical table-talk" for Karajan fans who want to know more about the musician and the man on a more intimate scale. Wonderful introduction by Richard Osborne, the first time in print when Karajan's "double membership" in the Nazi party is firmly denied.

Waldstein: Superb pictorial journey through Karajan's operatic productions from the 1950s in La Scala and Wiener Staatsoper to his own Salzburg Easter Festival from 1967 to 1982. Plenty of relevant text and a very useful chronology in the end. Never translated into English, but very much worth having even if your German is as rudimentary as mine.

Waldstein: The finest illustrated tribute to Karajan. Large variety of photographs reproduced in impeccable quality.

Waldstein: Rather unconventional pictorial tribute, somewhat hastily put together and limited mostly to several opera productions during the last 12 years of Karajan's life. Plenty of fascinating photos, though, includnig great sections on yachting in the Mediterranean, the zoo at Anif and the Vatican show in 1985. Only for Karajan buffs, but for them indispensable.

Waldstein: Though rather dated and indifferently printed, John Hunt's discography remains the most comprehensive source about Karajan's recorded legacy (video, audio, studio, live, unpublished recordings, LP, CD, LD and DVD releases). Indispensable for Karajan collectors. A short discography.

Waldstein: Priceless content, but atrocious presentation. The details of more than 3000 public appearances are given, but but there is no index whatsoever and only a few very superficial appendices to help your research. Still indispensable, but badly in need of a new and augmented edition. Processed data.

Waldstein: Short but sumptuously produced tribute, lavishly illustrated and with some fascinating quotes by fellow musicians. Comes together with a CD and a DVD, the former contains some previously unreleased recordings.

Waldstein: Long and interesting chapter on Karajan by a lady who had the rare chance to interview him in private. Certainly sympathetic, but hardly sycophantic.

Waldstein: Somewhat indifferent selection of almost exclusively b&w photos, but with many rare shots from concerts and rehearsals. Only for Karajan fans.

Waldstein: Quite a mixed bag. Valuable for the quotes from Karajan himself that form the closest to his autobiography that we have, but poorly co-written by Franz Endler. Inferior to Vaughan and Osborne in every way.

Waldstein: Recommended only for the disco- and videography in the end, less comprehensive than Hunt's but more user-friendly and more up-to-date. Otherwise a brief, superficial and prejudiced introduction suitable only for perfect newcomers with open minds. Grossly negative about Karajan's films and digital recordings.

Waldstein: Early biography by a long-time friend. Of more than passing interest, especially valuable for Karajan's early years or his tenure as director of the Wiener Staatsoper (1956-64). Never translated into English.

Waldstein: Short biography plus selection of articles from the German newspaper Die Zeit that cover most of Karajan's career (1947-89). Historically fascinating, though hardly enlightening. Beautifully illustrated with high-quality photos, some of them pretty rare.

Waldstein: First published in 1967, this book precedes Karajan's most productive years and is rather dated. But Harold Schonberg's typically pungent comments are also fascinating and his vast erudition, if not his somewhat hasty research, help to put Karajan in the right historical context.

Waldstein: A chapter on Karajan, Bernstein and Solti as the three greatest conductor superstars after WWII. Somewhat superficial, but not without some fascinating points.

Waldstein : Apparently a wretched character assassination by embittered former member of Karajan's entourage.

Waldstein : Not the best visual tribute. Some gems, to be sure, but indifferent selection on the whole, not always the best quality either. Plenty of ridiculous mistakes in the captions.