Karajan's Brahms. A Discographic Clarification (#HvK115)

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Herbert von Karajan conducted - and recorded - Brahms a lot! And, by and large, always well. So it is only reasonable that newcomers would still wish to explore it. But which of his recordings? The 60s cycle? Or the one from the 70s, after all? Or even the one from the 80s? How many recordings did he make? And which ones are hiding behind which labels? This post, an addendum to my series of discographies, was inspired by the #HvK115 Project on Twitter, where TheSymphonist and I challenged ourselves to come up with 115* great Karajan recordings on the occasion of his 115th birthday, seeing that HvK is still often snubbed by the self-proclaimed cognoscenti. Turns out, the challenge was to keep it down to 115! Anyway, with regards to the Brahms (the 60s DG recordings were included in the #HvK115 list, although many others could have rightly been, too), this little post is meant to help you identify which release contains which cycle (or parts thereof). The performances, to the excent they can be sensibly lumped together, are listed in chronological order. Individual releases from the various cycles are included, too, so you know which ones you might already have and which performances are hiding behind which cover, if you're in the market for some Karajan-Brahms.

For orientation: Karajan has recorded the Brahms Symphonies as a cycle four times, all with the Berlin Philharmonic and for DG (or the DG-affiliated Unitel). Once in 1963/64, in the Jesus Christus Kirche, then live on video in 1973, in new recordings from the Philharmonie in 1978, and finally in digital recordings from the Philharmonie between 1986 and 88 (which is more or less identical with the Sony/Telemondia visual releases). Additionally, he recorded Brahms in the studio in London (Kingsway Hall) for EMI with the Philharmonia Orchestra (Sys. 1, 2 & 4) and in Vienna: A one-off from the Musikverein with Brahms' 2nd from 1949 and then two fabled recordings - Symphonies 1 and 3 - with Culshaw for Decca from the Sophiensaal. The rest consists of radio broadcasts throughout the years, most notoriously perhaps the 1943 (!) Brahms 1st with the Concertgebouw, which must have just loved to play under Karajan.

(Survey begins after the break, if you didn't land on this page directly)

Symphony No.1 (1943) (Various) Concertgebouw Orchestra This First was recorded in September of 1943 (sources differ as to the exact date) with the Concertgebouw, which cannot have been too pleased with the Reich's up-and-coming star-conductor taking them through their paces. As WWII recordings in ancient sound are not generally my wheelhouse, I know nothing about this recording except the various, varioulsy believable reviews.
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Don Juan, 7 Veils DG Dokumente Release: 1990 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Don Juan Allegro Great Conductors Release: 2001 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Leonore Ovt., 7 Veils Naxos Release: 2008 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Don Juan, 7 Veils Audiophile Classics Release: 2001 1 CD US | UK | DE

EMI Recordings 1949-1955 (Columbia, EMI, Warner) Philharmonia, Vienna Philharmonic Walter Legge recorded Karajan four times in Brahms. The first recording was a taping of the Second Symphony at the Musikverein's Grosser Saal with the Vienna Philharmonic between October 18th and 27th, 1949. (Coupled, on CD, with the first ever recording of Metapmorphosen.) Then followed three of Brahms' symphonies with Karajan and the Philharmonia in London, at Kingsway Hall. The First between May and July of 1952, the Second and Fourth in 1955, from May 24th to 26th. Urania once tried to make an early HvK Brahms cycle from Karajan's early recordings, using the three Philharmonia performances and coupling it with the 1960 Vienna performance (Decca, see below).
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 etc. Vienna Philharmonic EMI Release: 1997 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 (Box Set) Vienna Philharmonic Warner Release: 2014 10 CD US | UK | DE		Johannes Brahms Symphonies Philharmonia & VPO Urania Release: 2003 2s CD US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 et al Philharmonia EMI Release: 1990 3 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1, 2, 4 ++ Philharmonia Warner Release: 2014 12 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 Philharmonia EMI Release: ? 1 LP
Johannes Brahms Sy. No.2 + Schubert 8 Philharmonia EMI Release: 1988 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Sy. No.2 + Schubert 8 Philharmonia EMI (Nipper) Release: 2002 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony Nos.1, 2, 4 ++ Philharmonia Warner Release: 2014 11 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 Philharmonia EMI Release: ? 1 LP
Johannes Brahms Sy. No.4 + Liszt Prel. Philharmonia EMI Release: 1988 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Sy. No.4 + Schumann 4 Philharmonia Warner (Karajan Coll.) Release: 2005 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony Nos.1, 2, 4 ++ Philharmonia Warner Release: 2014 11 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.4 Philharmonia EMI Release: ? 1 LP

Decca Recordings, 1959/1961 (Decca) Vienna Philharmonic The Vienna Philharmonic was under contract with Decca, when Karajan worked with the orchestra in the early days, and most of these recordings are still classics. The two Brahms symphonies - the First and Third - that John Culshaw produced and recored in the famed Sophiensaal still hold up, too. In addition to the CDs shown, these are also to be found on a variety of "Karajan & Decca" boxes, which are, however, oop.
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Tragic Ovt. Decca Emotionen Release: 1993 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Tragic Ovt. Decca Ovation Release: 1987 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Tragic Ovt. Decca Japan Release: 2008 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Tragic Ovt., Haydn Var. Regis Release: 2013 1 CD US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.3 + Dvorak 8 Decca Originals Release: 2011 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.3 + Dvorak 8 Decca Ovation Release: 1988 1 CD US | UK | DE

1960s Cycle (DG) Berlin Philharmonic Unlike the first DG Beethoven cycle from the 60s, the Brahms cycle (recorded on October 11/12 [1], 10/11 [2] 1963, September 28-30 [3], and October 12-16 [4] 1964 was never the DG go-to Karajan cycle. Well-regarded, though it is, the 70s cycle was the one that was pushed and re-issued; the 60s cycle never, in fact, made it onto CD to this day (as a cycle). Remastered versions of all symphonies have, however appeared. No.1 in the Originals issue, Nos.2 & 3 in the Karjan Masters edition, and No.4 on the "Karajan The Legend" disc. Most recently, the cycle was re-issued on Vinyl and as high-res downloads.
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Schumann 1 DG Originals Release: 1995 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Tragic Ovt. DG Privilige Release: 199? 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Schumann O-S-F DG Eloquence Release: 1999 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 & other works DG Panorama Release: 200? 2 CDs US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Sys Nos.2 & 3 DG Karajan Masters Release: 2007 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Sys Nos.2 & 3 DG MusikFest Release: 1990 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Sys Nos.2 & 3 DG Coll.d.Mill Release: 2005 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies DG Release: 2017 4 LPs US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.4 + DVD DG The Legend Release: 1995 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.4 + Tragic Ovt., Haydn Var. DG Masterpieces Release: 199? 1 CD US | UK | DE		Johannes Brahms Symphonies DG Release: 2017 4 LPs US | UK | DE

1973 Video Cycle (DG/Unitel) Berlin Philharmonic This cycle, live [based on live concerts, anyway] from January 2 and 3, 1973, much like the video-cycles of Karjan's Beethoven Symphonies, isn't on as many minds, probably because the format isn't every listener's cup of tea. (Certainly not mine.) Curious that it's never appeared on disc; I wonder how it might fare. Some certainly swear by it. The concerts are also available on the Berlin Philharmonic's Digital Concert Hall. It had also been available on two Laser Discs, btw.
Johannes Brahms Symphonies UNITEL Release: 2008 2 DVDs 5.1 DTS US | UK | DE

1970s Cycle (DG) Berlin Philharmonic This is "the" Karajan Brahms cycle, as far as popularity and frequency of re-issues is concerned. When you see Karajan's Brahms on CD, it's a safe bet it's from this 70s cycle, which was recorded in the Philharmonie (a marketing point, altohugh the Jesus Christus Kirche is probably the more interesting recording space), in February of 1978 (although work migh thave begun on it as early as October of 1977). Its Fourth, in particularly, is still getting a lot of love, and rightly so. If you are wondering why the set of Symphonies from the Karajan: The Collection edition (I call it the "Me-Me-Me Edition", because the covers feature Herbie petting his Jet. Riding his Motorbike. Steering his motor plane. Sailing his Yacht. Visting Moscow etc.) is included at all or as "No.4", that's because it contains Symphonies 1 through 3 from the 80s set but the Fourth from the 70s set. (Odd, maybe, but not a bad move. Even if it was done for space-, not quality-of-interpretation reasons.)
Johannes Brahms Symphonies "2CD" Edition DG Release: 1997 2 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies H.v.Karajan Collection DG Release: 1990 3 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies K. Symphony Edition DG Release: 2008 3 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Org. Cover Ed. DG Japan Release: 2001 4 CDs US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 + Haydn Var. DG Galleria Release: ~1990s 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 + Schumann #2 DG Release: ~1990s 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.3 & 4 DG Galleria Release: 1993 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.3 & 4 DG Germany Release: 1991 1 CD US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.1 & 3 DG Virtuoso Release: 2012 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.2 & 4 DG Virtuoso Release: 2012 1 CD US | UK | DE		Johannes Brahms Symphony No.4 [sic!] Karajan The Collection DG Release: 2003 2 CDs US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 DG Japan Release: 2017 1 SHM CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 + Tragic Ovt DG Japan Release: 2014 1 CD? US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.2 & 3 [same image as CD of No.2] DG Japan Release: 2022 1 SHM SACD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.3 & 4 DG Japan Release: 2017 1 SHM CD US | UK | DE

1980s Cycle (DG/Sony DVD) Berlin Philharmonic This is the digital 1980s cycle that Karajan recorded between 1986 (Symphony No.2, June 15-19), and 1988 (Symphonies Nos 3 & 4, on and around October 23rd, with the No.1 having been recorded between January 23 to 29, 1987). It suffers 'by association' from the (somewhat unfair) dodgy reputation of the digital Beethoven cycle, but otherwise has a good reputation, with some performances (the 2nd is often mentioned) coming in for particular praise. Note that the "Me-Me-Me" Edition set (see also "70s Cycle" above) contains Symphonies 1 through 3 from this cycle but had the Fourth Symphony taken from the 70s cycle. (It's possible that there is an alternative cover for the original release of the set.)
Johannes Brahms Symphonies First Release DG Release: 1989 3 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Brahms Edition DG Release: 2008 5 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies DUO DG Release: 2011 2 CDs US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies Nos.1-3 [sic!] Karajan The Collection DG Release: 2003 2 CDs US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.1 DG Release: 1987 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2 + Haydn Var. DG Release: 1987 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.3 + Tragic Ovt. DG Release: 1989 1 CD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.4 DG Release: 1989 1 CD US | UK | DE
Johannes Brahms Symphonies 1 & 2 Sony/Telemondial Release: 2010 1 DVD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphonies 1 & 2 Sony/Telemondial Release: 2009 1 DVD US | UK | DE	Johannes Brahms Symphony No.3 and other works DG Panorama Release: 2007 2 CDs US | UK | DE

Brahms Karajan Symphony cycle complete overview, complete Herbert von Karajan Symphonies Johannes Brahms