Karl Böhm enjoyed the musical and personal friendship of some of the most important fellow performers and composers of the 20th century. He was especially close to Richard Strauss who dedicated his opera Daphne to Böhm (a fine DGG recording has never left the catalogue). Böhm led a golden era at the Dresden State Opera in the 1930's and took the helm of the Vienna State Opera on two occasions.

He studied music in Vienna, but returned to his native Graz to study law. However, he immediately began coaching singers at the local opera and soon his law studies gave way to a full-time conducting career. Munich was the next stop in 1921 where Bruno Walter and Karl Muck were in charge and Böhm acknowledged a debt to both men throughout his career.

He enjoyed special relationships with both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics and recorded prolifically, especially in Vienna. Sought out by all the major opera houses, he devoted a considerable amount of time to the Met in New York and his beloved Vienna.

Böhm recorded prolifically, mostly for DGG and left a legacy of award-winning discs to numerous to mention. Mozart, Wagner, Bruckner, Strauss, Beethoven, Brahms, all the great German Romantics are represented in his extensive catalogue.