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{kahr'-ah-yahn}
The Austrian Herbert von Karajan, b. Apr. 5, 1908, d. July
16, 1989, was one of the foremost conductors of his generation.
He studied at the Salzburg Mozarteum and the Academy of Music
in Vienna; his first appointment as conductor was at the opera
house in Ulm. His rise to prominence in Germany coincided
with the rise of National Socialism, and Karajan's membership
in the Nazi party caused him difficulties after World War
II. Eventually, an Allied commission cleared him of charges
of political collaboration with the Hitler regime. In 1955,
after the death of Wilhelm Furtwangler, Karajan was asked
to become conductor-for-life of the Berlin Philharmonic, and
he remained in this post until he resigned in 1989 because
of poor health. From 1956 to 1964 he was artistic director
of the Vienna State Opera, and after 1967 he was sole director
of the Salzburg Easter Festival. A prolific recording artist,
with more than 800 recordings to his credit, Karajan is celebrated
for his performances of Beethoven, Wagner, Bruckner, and Richard
Strauss.
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