Thanks for the explanation, thought there had to be a reason for something like that. Not favouring Baroque and before, especially choral works, I must admit I don't feel qualified to pass any comment on the performance itself but yes, I did notice that from time to time he just left them to it. Good for him.
Can't quite get along with bringing political issues into the concert hall though. Mark Elder, a conductor I much admire, has a tendency to do the same. Slightly unfair, I think, to put your own views in such a way. At a political meeting you can walk out if you don't like what's being said, but in the RAH when you've come to hear Bach you ain't got a lot of choice.

I am surprised no one mentioned Ferenc Fricsay and Sergiu Celibidache.

Fricsay died quite young in 1963, but left a lot of recordings from his last years, and that is still audible quality today.

Celibidache, the extravagant genius, refused to make any recordings. After his death in 1996, his family released publication rights for many of his radio concerts. His Bruckner symphonies offer both a perfect sound quality and a new light on the music of the Austrian composer.

Yes, but let's face it - a lot of the negativity about Karajan from the 'specialists' has to do with snobism IMO. He's popular - even with casual fans - and so he's suspect in the eyes of connoisseurs who like the idea that they know something more than the ordinary guy/gal on the street. I think he was a fine conductor. Not everything he's ever done is superwonderful, but you can say that about the other greats as well. But his best ranks with the best of anybody else IMO.

Karajan and Toscanini are the greatest conductors of our century. Beethoven is the greatest conductor of all time.

Firstly, Toscanini was not primarily 20th century; he was essentially part of the generation of the late 1800's. Secondly: have you heard Beethoven conduct?

Claudio Abbado
Richard Strauss

Beethoven ? Have you really seen him conduct to assess ?

I once read that the reason for Karajan conducting with his eyes shut was because he regarded himself as very handsome and all old musicians in the orchestra as very ugly.

This is really unlikely about Karajan, and probably untrue

BAWIG05: "This is really unlikely about Karajan, and probably untrue"
Maybe, but neither you or me knew Karajan personally, or did you? It is easy (and naive) to see celebreties as better people than average.