Carlos Kleiber discography
Austrian conductor Carlos Kleiber (1930–2004) only released 9 studio albums over the course of his entire career.[1] He was famous for his elusiveness, often canceling concerts on short notice and only appearing in 96 orchestral concerts in addition to some 620 opera performances throughout his 5 decade career.[2] He was equally as hesitant with recordings, claiming that "every unproduced record is a good record",[3] and was described as not being able to "bear the thought of listeners sitting at home with a score in their hands… identifying every mistake".[4] Often his hesitancy led to him forbidding the release of some recordings,[5] although in the case of Tristan und Isolde in 1982, it was done so against his wishes.[6] The 9 studio albums he did produce include 4 operas and 5 symphonies published by Deutsche Grammophon, as well as a single piano concerto with EMI. Besides a 1979 recording of two Schubert symphonies, each release was a single work. Despite his small number of recordings, each one became critically acclaimed in its own right,[2] with those of Beethoven's 5th and 7th symphonies hailed as among the greatest classical music recordings ever made.[7][8] Following his abandonment of the studio in 1982,[3] Kleiber is remembered well by 30 or so live recordings,[5] of which those of Der Rosenkavalier and Vienna New Year's Concerts have been especially praised. Kleiber's' contributions in the studio and stage secured his place as not only one of the most important 20th century conductors,[2][1] but as one of the greatest of all time.[9]
Carlos Kleiber discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 9 |
Live albums | 17 |
Compilation albums | 2 |
DVD releases | 15 |
The earliest recording of Kleiber is from a 1960 live performance with of Telemann's Suite in B flat major and CPE Bach's Cello Concerto in B flat major with Hamburger Rundfunkorchester. Yet Kleiber would not enter the recording studio until 1975 where he would abandon recordings of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with Arturo Michelangeli, La bohème at La Scala in 1979 and force BBC to destroy a 1981 broadcast with the London Symphony Orchestra of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, Schubert's Symphony Nos. 3 and Weber's overture to Der Freischütz after the performance received negative reviews.[10] Kleiber's first success came in 1983 when he produced a complete recording of Der Freischütz with Staatskapelle Dresden, followed by monumental recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in 1975 and No. 7 in 1976. Both symphonies received much praise,[7][8] with one reviewer commenting on the former that "it was as if Homer had come back to recite the Iliad".[3] It was around this time that a Kleiber became well associated with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO), and although he abandoned a recording with them of Berg's Wozzeck and Dvořák's Symphony No. 9,[11] he subsequently released acclaimed recordings of Die Fledermaus by Strauss II and La traviata by Verdi in 1976 and 1977 respectively.[3] 1977 also saw the release of Dvořák's Piano Concerto in G minor, once again with BRSO but notably Kleiber's only recording that was not with Deutsche Grammophon – with EMI instead[1] – and the only one with an instrumental soloist, Sviatoslav Richter, whom Kliber "especially loved the kindness of this bear of a man [Richter] and his refusal to conform or to explain his musical likes or dislikes".[5] Kleiber would return to the VPO in late 1978, and release recordings of Schubert's Symphony Nos. 3 and 8 "Unfinished" the following year. These recordings were more controversial than earlier releases, especially the 3rd, but notable nonetheless.[1] Kleiber would begin recording both Brahms' Symphony No. 4 with the VPO and Wagner's Tristan und Isolde with Staatskapelle Dresden in 1480.[12] While the former would be released in 1981, the latter would continue recording until April of 1982 when Kleiber walked out for unknown reasons.[3][6] It would be released later that year, to much admiration, especially from the daring yet successful pick of the young Welsh soprano Margaret Price as Isolde.[5][13]
Studio recordings
Year | Work(s) | Collaborators | LP Release | CD Release[14] | Ref(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1973 | Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber Libretto by Johann Friedrich Kind |
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[15][16] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1975 | Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven |
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra |
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|
[17][18] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1976 | Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven |
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra |
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[17][18] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1976 | Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II Libretto by Karl Haffner |
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
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[19][20] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave |
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
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[21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | Piano Concerto in G minor by Antonín Dvořák |
Piano: Sviatoslav Richter |
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[22][23] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1979 | Symphony Nos. 3 and 8 "Unfinished" by Franz Schubert |
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra |
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[24] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1981 | Symphony No. 4 by Johannes Brahms |
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra |
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[25] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1982 | Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner Text by Richard Wagner |
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[26] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Live recordings
Date | Work | Collaborators | Release | Ref(s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 December 1960 | Suite in B flat major (Tafelmusik) by Georg Philipp Telemann |
|
[27][28] | |||
Cello Concerto in B flat major by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach |
Cello: Irene Güdel |
|
[29] | |||
1 December 1962[30] | Le fifre enchanté, ou Le soldat magicien: "Die kleine Zauberflöte" by Jacques Offenbach Libretto by Charles Nuitter and Étienne Tréfeu[31] |
Deutsche Oper am Rhein Orchestra
|
|
[32][33] | ||
Le mariage aux lanternes: "Die Verlobung bei der Laterne" by Jacques Offenbach Libretto by Michel Carré and Léon Battu[31] |
Deutsche Oper am Rhein Orchestra
|
|
[32][34] | |||
L'île de Tulipatan: "Die Insel Tulipatan" by Jacques Offenbach Libretto by Henri Chivot and Alfred Duru[31] |
Deutsche Oper am Rhein Orchestra
|
|
[35] | |||
7 June 1967 | Das Lied von der Erde by Gustav Mahler Words from Hans Bethge's Die chinesische Flöte |
Contralto: Christa Ludwig, tenor: Waldemar Kmentt |
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[36][37] | ||
Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
|
[32][38] | ||||
29 November 1969 | Der Freischütz: Overture by Carl Maria von Weber |
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[39] | |||
22 April 1970 | Der Freischütz: Overture by Carl Maria von Weber |
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[40] | |||
27 November 1970 | Wozzeck by Alban Berg Libretto by Alban Berg |
Bavarian State Orchestra and chorus
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[41] | ||
27 May 1972[42] | Symphony No. 94 by Joseph Haydn |
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[22][43] | |||
Wozzeck (excerpts) by Alban Berg |
Soprano: Gwendy Fine |
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[44][45] | |||
Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven |
|
[44][46] | ||||
24 July 1972 | Tristan und Isolde: "Prelude" and "Liebestod" by Richard Wagner[lower-alpha 4] Text by Richard Wagner |
|
[47][48] | |||
12 December 1972 | Symphony No. 2 by Alexander Borodin |
|
[49][50] | |||
13 July 1973 | Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss Libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal |
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|
[51] | ||
6 May 1977 | Elektra by Richard Strauss Libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal |
Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
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[52] | ||
12 October 1978[53][lower-alpha 6] | Der Freischütz: Overture by Carl Maria von Weber |
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[54] | |||
Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven |
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[44][55] | ||||
1979 | La bohème by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa |
Teatro alla Scala
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|
[56] | ||
16 December 1979 | Der Freischütz: Overture by Carl Maria von Weber |
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[47][57] | |||
Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
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[58] | ||||
19 February 1980 | Otello by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito |
Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
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[59] | ||
28 February 1982 | Symphony No. 94 by Joseph Haydn |
|
[22][43] | |||
3 May 1982 | Symphony No. 4 by Ludwig van Beethoven |
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[44][60] | |||
7 November 1983[61][lower-alpha 7] | Symphony No. 94 by Joseph Haydn |
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[22][62] | |||
Symphony No. 6 by Ludwig van Beethoven |
|
[44][63] | ||||
20 March 1988 | Symphony No. 2 by Johannes Brahms |
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[22][64] | |||
2 June 1983 | English Idyll No. 1 by George Butterworth |
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[22][65] | |||
Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
|
[66] | ||||
10 March 1986 | English Idyll No. 1 by George Butterworth |
|
[67] | |||
1 January 1989 | Vienna New Year's Concert (Various pieces) |
|
[11] | |||
1 January 1992 | Vienna New Year's Concert (Various pieces) |
|
[44] | |||
16 May 1993 | Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
|
[32][68] | |||
28 June 1994 | Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
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[69] | |||
5 April 1996 | Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
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[70] | |||
21 October 1996 | Symphony No. 33 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
|
[71] |
Collections
DVD releases
- 1970: "The Great conductors", TDK and Arthaus. Overtures: Der Freischütz & Die Fledermaus Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (rehearsals)
- 1976: Verdi: Otello, La Scala Milan Orchestra & Chorus, Plácido Domingo, Mirella Freni, Piero Cappuccilli, Opera Legacies
- 1978: Bizet: Carmen, Vienna State Opera, TDK and Bel Canto. Soloists: Elena Obraztsova, Plácido Domingo, Yuri Mazurok, Isobel Buchanan.
- 1979: Puccini: La bohème, La Scala Milan Orchestra & Chorus, Ileana Cotrubaș, Luciano Pavarotti, Bel Canto Society
- 1979: Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Grammophon. Soloists: Gwyneth Jones, Brigitte Fassbaender, Lucia Popp, Francisco Araiza.
- 1983: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, Symphony No. 7, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Philips.
- 1986: Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus, Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Grammophon. Soloists: Pamela Coburn, Brigitte Fassbaender, Janet Perry, Eberhard Wächter.
- 1989: Vienna New Year's Concert, Vienna Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon.
- 1991: Mozart: Symphony No. 36, Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Vienna Philharmonic, Philips.
- 1992: Vienna New Year's Concert, Vienna Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon.
- 1994: Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Deutsche Grammophon. Soloists: Felicity Lott, Kurt Moll, Anne Sofie von Otter, Gottfried Hornik, Barbara Bonney, Heinz Zednik.
- 1996: Ludwig van Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 33, Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4, Bavarian State Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon.
- 2010: Complete Opera and Concert DVDs on Deutsche Grammophon – 10 DVDs.
- 2010: Carlos Kleiber – I Am Lost to the World, documentary, Director: Georg Wübbolt, Production: BFMI / ZDF / 3sat, Distributor: C Major Entertainment.
- 2011: Carlos Kleiber – Traces to Nowhere, documentary, Director: Eric Schulz, Production: Servus TV, Distributor: EuroArts Music International.[73]
Notes
- The We Love Carlos Society (1-709) released a recording of in 1999 and the Cult of Classical Music (COCOM1014) in 2001 but Profil is the official release.
- Many earlier recordings exist, with Nuova Era (2224) in 1988 as the first; The 2014 Wiener Symphoniker edition (007) is the official release.
- No official release.
- The orchestral arrangement by Wagner himself
- Many earlier recordings exist, with Nuova Era (HR4410) in 1991 as the first; The 1996 Mediaphon edition (75.103) is the first official release, with the 2004 Hänssler edition (93.116) as the second.
- This concert also included a performance of Symphony No. 3 by Franz Schubert, of which the recording does not survive.
- This concert also included a performance of Der Freischütz: Overture by Carl Maria von Weber, of which the recording does not survive.
References
- Clements 2010.
- Barber 2001.
- Evidon 2004.
- Gutman 2017.
- Clark 2012.
- Barber 2013, p. 298.
- Denby 2012.
- Libbey 2009.
- "Carlos Kleiber voted greatest conductor of all time". BBC Worldwide Press Releases. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- Barber 2013, pp. 297–298.
- Barber 2013, p. 300.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, pp. 4, 17, 19.
- Blyth 2004.
- Release date and No. of CDs from Hirasawa
Categories from Barber 2013, pp. 300–306 - Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, pp. 21–23.
- Warrack, John (1986). "Weber Der Freischütz". Gramophone. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, p. 2.
- Osborne, Richard (1995). "Beethoven Symphonies Nos 5 and 7". Gramophone. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, pp. 7–8.
- Mscott, Rohan (2005). "Strauss (Die) Fledermaus". Gramophone. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, pp. 13, 16.
- Barber 2013, p. 302.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - label discography: EMI". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, p. 5.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, p. 4.
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon 2010, pp. 17, 19.
- Barber 2013, p. 305.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Telemann: Musique de Table (Tafelmusik-Suite)". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Bach, C.P.E.: Cello Concerto in B-flat major, Wq.171". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - opera & concert listing: 3 × Offenbach". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Lamb, Andrew (2001). "Offenbach, Jacques". Grove Music Online. London, England: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.20271.
- Barber 2013, p. 303.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Offenbach: Die kleine Zauberflöte - complete". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Offenbach: Die Verlobung bei der Laterne - complete". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Offenbach: Die Insel Tulipatan - complete". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Barber 2013, pp. 302–303.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mahler : Das Lied von der Erde". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Weber: Der Freischütz - overture". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Weber: Der Freischütz - overture". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Berg: Wozzeck - complete". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - opera & concert listing: Cologne Radio Symphony Orchesta - concert". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Haydn: Symphony No.94 in G major "Surprise"". Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- Barber 2013, p. 301.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Berg: Wozzeck - Three Fragments". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A major, op.92". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Barber 2013, p. 306.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde - Prelude/Liebestod". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Barber 2013, pp. 301–302.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Borodin: Symphony No.2 in B minor, op.5". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Strauss, Richard: Der Rosenkavalier - complete". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "Richard Strauss: Elektra Kleiber: Classical CD Reviews-June 2000 Music on the Web(UK)". www.musicweb-international.com.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - opera & concert listing: Chicago Symphony Orchestra - concert". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Weber: Der Freischütz - overture". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Beethoven: Symphony No.5 in C minor, op.67". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Barber 2013, p. 304.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Weber: Der Freischütz - overture". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Barber 2013, p. 312.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Beethoven: Symphony No.4 in B-flat major, op.60". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - opera & concert listing: Bavarian State Orchestra - concert". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Haydn: Symphony No.94 in G major "Surprise"". Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Beethoven: Symphony No.6 in F major, op.68 "Pastoral"". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Brahms: Symphony No.2 in D major, op.73". Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Butterworth: English Idylls No. 1". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Butterworth: English Idylls No. 1". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - discography: Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B-flat major, K.319". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "Complete Orchestral Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon". Deutsche Grammophon. 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Barber 2013, pp. 309–312.
Sources
- Books
- Barber, Charles (2013). Corresponding with Carlos: A Biography of Carlos Kleiber. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1442231177.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Carlos Kleiber - Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon (booklet). Berlin, Germany: Deutsche Grammophon. 2010.
- Online
- Barber, Charles (2001). "Kleiber, Carlos". Grove Music Online. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- Blyth, Alan (21 July 2004). "Obituary: Carlos Kleiber". The Guardian.
- Clark, Andrew (14 August 2012). "All the best: Carlos Kleiber". Financial Times.
- Clements, Andrew (29 July 2010). "Kleiber: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophone". The Guardian.
- Denby, David (1 May 2012). "Ten Perfect Orchestral Recordings". The New Yorker.
- Evidon, Richard (August 2004). "Carlos Kleiber". Grammy Awards.
- Gutman, David (1 March 2017). "Carlos Kleiber: a guide to the great conductor's lesser-known recordings". Gramophone.
- Hirasawa, Toru. "Carlos Kleiber - label discography: Deutsche Grammophone".CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Libbey, Ted (24 February 2009). "Beethoven's Best: The Ultimate 5th Symphony". NPR.