New Year's Concert in Vienna - Karajan / Battle;

For the lightness and lilt, one need look no farther than Herbert von Karajan's New Year's Day 1987 offering with the Vienna Philharmonic. Playing to the manner born, the Viennese are on their very best behavior for Karajan and summon every last nuance out of the music. Kathleen Battle sings the Voices of Spring exquisitely, and every one of the performances vibrates with life. --Ted Libbey