MUSIC

Berlin Philharmonic conductor Herbert von Karajan’s frequent absences and canceled West Berlin concerts have struck a chorus of sour notes from once-loyal Berliners and will be taken up by the city’s Senate on May 30, the council announced. A Social Democratic delegate to the Senate, Walter Momper, said it would also examine recording and other contracts made by Karajan’s agent that may involve work by the entire Berlin Philharmonic. Karajan, the orchestra’s 80-year-old “conductor for life,” has been sharply criticized in recent months by Berlin fans and city cultural officials. The conductor canceled a heavily advertised Berlin concert on Sunday, April 24, then flew off to Japan for a tour with the orchestra the next day, provoking widespread complaints from Berliners. During a tour of West Germany last November, Karajan called off a concert appearance in Dusseldorf, saying he couldn’t mount the podium because he said he had food poisoning from eating tainted fish. Karajan later changed his mind and performed, but called off another appearance in Stuttgart during the same tour.