“The orchestra is on its toes, and Solti gets some exhilarating playing ... Gounod’s unshakably popular dances for Goethe's vision of a Witches' Sabbath, is welcomed for excellent playing and sumptuous sound” “Karajan’s re-thinking that has gone into these makes them unusually exciting. Coppélia in particular sounds much better music than in most performances, and the golden playing of the Berlin Philharmonic, and immense care over details make you hang on every note. The Prelude is the most lyrical I have ever heard, and rhapsodic woodwind solos are surprisingly lovely” (Gramophone)

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Recordings: 1960/1 (Tr. 1-20); 1961 (Tr. 21-28)