Deutsche Grammophon's vaults are full of exceptional recordings of classical orchestral music, and the performances by
Herbert von Karajan and the
Berlin Philharmonic are prominent in the label's catalog. The slow selections on
Karajan: Adagio are in most cases drawn from larger compositions, though these movements are frequently anthologized as if they were free-standing works. Many have come to think of the Adagietto from
Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 as a separate piece, largely because of its evocative use in the film Death in Venice. The famous Canon by Johann Pachelbel is seldom played with its original companion piece, the Gigue in D major. The
Berlin Philharmonic under
Karajan plays with a full-bodied sound that casual classical fans will enjoy, even if early music purists will find some tracks too lush for their tastes.