Track Listing

1. Adagietto, for orchestra (from the Symphony No. 5): Adagietto. Sehr langsam
2. Canon and gigue, for 3 violins & continuo in D major, T. 337: Canon, arranged by Max Seiffert
3. Méditation, for violin & orchestra (or other arrangement) (from opera 'Thaïs')
4. Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
5. Sinfonia al Santo Sepolcro, sonata for 2 violins, viola & continuo in B minor, RV 169: Adagio molto
6. Peer Gynt Suite for orchestra (or piano or piano, 4 hands) No. 1, Op. 46: Ases Tod Aase's Death
7. Divertimento No. 15 for 2 horns & strings in B flat major ('Lodron Serenade No 2'), K. 287 (K. 271H): Adagio
8. Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni): arranged by Remo Giazotto
9. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto
10. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air
11. Valse Triste, for orchestra (from Kuolema), Op. 44/1

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51490 in Music
• Released on: 1995-05-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Gentle, Slow, Reflective...and Wonderful
Karajian's Adagio is, as the title of this 1994 album culled from previous recordings of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, a CD devoted to the "adagio," a slow, gentle tempo that first became widely used in the Baroque period of music. An adagio can be either part of a greater whole (the Allegretto or 2nd Movement from Beethoven's Seventh Symphony in A major) or a complete self-contained composition (the "Valse Triste/Sad Waltz by Sibelius).

The best known pieces in this collection from Deustsche Gramophon are perhaps Pachelbel's Canon in D, which features a gentle melody that is played first by one section of the orchestra, then repeated and taken up by other sections, becoming more intricate as the piece ascends to a shimmering conclusion. The other widely known composition, Tomaso Albinoni's Adagio in G minor, sounds as if it was a Baroque piece from the late 17th Century, but it was neither composed by Albinoni nor is it a Baroque-period work. It's actually a 20th Century forgery executed by Albinoni's biographer Remo Giazotto. Nevertheless, it's a powerful and deeply moving piece, marked by the somber interplay of organ and strings. (This piece was used, with great effect, in the latter section of Australian director Peter Weir's 1980 film Gallipoli.)

Karajan's Adagio spans several centuries and musical eras, from the aforementioned Baroque to the post-Romantic 20th Century. In addition to Albinoni/Giazotto, Pachelbel, Sibelius, and Beethoven, listeners will find compositions by Mozart, Massenet, Vivaldi. Brahms, Grieg, Mahler, and J.S. Bach. With such a diverse group of composers, even though the pieces are leisurely and gentle, they also express a wide range of musical moods, ranging from the pathos of Grieg's Anse's Death to the pastoral tranquility of Mozart's 4th Movement from his Divertimento in B-flat major.

Each track is worth every penny.
I can't believe no one has reviewed this yet! This CD is especially ideal for (but not limited to): relaxing, falling to sleep, romantic evenings, baby/child naptime. Albioni's Adagio (not to be confused with the title of the CD)is a tad long, but has spectacular moments. The Adagio from Mahler's 5th is heartbreakingly beautiful, as is the Meditation from Thais. Rarely has such exquisiteness been packed into a single CD. Don't think, just buy.

If you wish the moderate baroque music,
Disappointed is the Canon of Pachelbel. The score is partly omitted and the temp is too rhythmical like a march. On the other hand the Adagio of Albinoni is orchestrated beautifully except the pipe organ which sounds after-recording. The Air is normal.
If you wish the baroque music above, compare others.