jeff:
my favorite karajan recordings are; the emi (angel) new world symphony with the bpo...late 50's i think, brahms #1 bpo on dg, and the early 60's beethoven set.
if the 1812 you mention is with the don cossack choir, i love the screaming tenors & rumbling basses, but think it's among the worst trumpet playing ever recorded. the ending section is so out of tune i cringe!!
you may be hearing a better one, though.
dj