In 1973/74, Herbert von Karajan took an innovative step and recorded orchestral pieces by Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern and Alban Berg together with the Berliner Philharmoniker - all three representatives of the Second Viennese School. The results were groundbreaking recordings of the Second Viennese School, presented in a sophisticated 4-LP box set designed by renowned graphic designer Holger Matthies.

For the first time, these recordings have been newly mixed and cut from the original four and eight-track tapes and are now being released as part of the Original Source Series as a 4-LP gatefold edition with original artwork in a high-quality slipcase.

The audiophile vinyl series The Original Source presents outstanding recordings from the 1970s in a whole new sound quality. For this, the renowned Emil Berliner Studios have remastered and edited the original four- and eight-track tapes in 100% analog quality (AAA) using technologies developed specifically to produce the series. The sonic differences to the original releases are considerable: greater clarity, more subtleties and improvements in frequency response, while at the same time less background noise, distortion and compression allow for an audiophile listening experience like never before.

On 180g vinyl records and in a deluxe gatefold edition with original covers and lyrics, the copies of this series are released limited and numbered, accompanied by additional photos and facsimiles of the recording logs and band boxes.

Tracklisting:

LP 1
Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5
Side A
1. I. Die Achtel ein wenig bewegt – zögernd
2. II. Heftig
3. III. Lebhaft
4. IV. Sehr rasch

Side B
1. V. Ein wenig bewegt
2. VI. Langsam
3. VII. Ein wenig bewegter
4. VIII. Sehr langsam
5. IX. Etwas bewegt
6. X. In gehender Bewegung
7. XI. Breit

LP 2
Side C
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 (Version for String Orchestra)
1. I. Grave
2. II. Molto rallentando (Bar 100)
3. III. Pesante (Bar 201)
4. IV. Adagio (Bar 229)
5. V. Adagio (Bar 370)

Side D
Schoenberg: Variations, Op. 31
1. Introduktion. Mässig, ruhig
2. Thema. Molto moderato
3. Var. 1. Moderato
4. Var. 2. Langsam
5. Var. 3. Mässig
6. Var. 4. Walzertempo
7. Var. 5. Bewegt
8. Var. 6. Andante
9. Var. 7. Langsam
10. Var. 8. Sehr rasch
11. Var. 9. L'istesso tempo; aber etwas langsamer
12. Finale. Mässig schnell

LP 3
Side E
Berg: 3 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6
1. No. 1, Praeludium
2. No. 2, Reigen
3. No. 3, Marsch

Side F
Berg: Lyric Suite, 3 Pieces for String Orchestra
1. I. Andante amoroso
2. II. Allegro misterioso
3. III. Adagio appassionato

LP 4
Side G
1. Webern: Passacaglia Für Orchester Op. 1

Webern: 5 Movements, Op. 5 (1929 Orchestral Version)
2. I. Heftig bewegt
3. II. Sehr langsam
4. III. Sehr bewegt
5. IV. Sehr langsam
6. V. In zarter Bewegung

Side H
Webern: 6 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 (1928 Rev. Version)
1. I. Langsam
2. II. Bewegt
3. III. Mässig
4. IV. Sehr mässig
5. V. Sehr langsam
6. VI. Langsam

Webern: Symphony, Op. 21
7. I. Ruhig schreitend
8. II. Variationen