Recorded formal interviews and private conversations by the author with Herbert von Karajan: Salzburg May 1977; Berlin December 1977; along with three additional visits to Salzburg and Berlin between March 1988 and June 1989 ( one month before HvK's death on 16 JUL 89). Table of Contents: Preface /v Karajan: Profile of a musician /1 Conversations with Karajan /33 1 The formative years /35 2 The Italian conversation / 68 3 Berlin Philharmonic / 80 4 On conducting /93 5 Sibelius, Richard Strauss, and the Second Viennese School / 107 6 Gramophone amd Film: The Recorded Legacy /126 7 Afterwords /137 8 Epilogue / 147 Karajan and Oxford /148 Karajan and Opera Production /151 Selected Bibliography / 154 Selected Recordings /156 List of Illustrations / 163 Index / 165