Christian Thielemann studied viola and piano at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin and took private lessons in composition and conducting before becoming répétiteur aged 19 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin with Heinrich Hollreiser and working as Herbert von Karajan's assistant.

In 1997, he became Generalmusikdirektor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, a post he held until 2004, during which time he conducted all ten of Wagner's stage works. He is regarded as the leading exponent of the Austro-German conducting tradition, in the manner of Furtwängler and Karajan.

Thielemann's tour with his orchestra, just after the end of his tenure as General Music Director, included the Viennese concert given here, recorded by Austrian radio, affording the present recording a particular documentary value. Here he is, live at the Musikverein on 28th November, 2004, in exemplary form as evinced by an enthusiastic reception from the Viennese public.