Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5 Leonard Bernstein

[@alexhamilton9758]

"I opened the door to heaven and God played the 5th symphony for me." Jean Sibelius

[@seanoslin5299]

I’ve heard many recordings of the 5th and I’ve even heard Lenny and the NY Phil do it live, but nothing compares to this. He was one of the truly great Sibelians

[@stephenhall3515]

Bernstein knew that the Brits were huge Sibelians (especially thanks to Beecham's encouragement of the composer when he was depressed by illness and anxiety and the men were close friends) so imagine 'Lenny' in the lion's den in 1966. The LSO was reaching its peak and was full of superb soloists to boot. Even Bernstein occasionally doubted himself (despite appearing assured) and apparently rehearsed with sections of the LSO then the whole orchestra to test out consensus. The hall in Croydon had a slightly dry acoustic and Bernstein wrote that he had some problems with strings at full strength when the winds were being intricate but all the musicians understood the issue in such a dynamic score and we see him signaling dynamics here as needed. Many were critical of Bernstein "emoting" but he was doing no such thing and communicating to the orchestra instead while keeping tempo controlled with his stick hand -- rather like Boult. Many things make this probably the best Sibelius 5 I have ever heard but if I had to choose one it would be Bernstein's attention to the contrapuntal structure of a symphony seemingly made up of small cells and motifs and what instruments can do. Bernstein got inside this particular masterpiece with his ears and brain yet leaves enough fresh air for the music to really breathe, as the composer wanted after writing 3 versions over several years. Sibelius wasn't satisfied with the 1915 version even though Finnish orchestras liked it and solved the tensions by departing from 4 separate movements and calling back the 1916 version before printing. The final version was ready by 1918 and no other work gave him so many headaches. Bernstein here seems to have known all about that and seems to coax his and the other musicians' way through these same tough passages. The result was perfection. His NYPO recording is similar but doesn't have the magic of this unique performance.

[@梶田勇-f2q]

Lenny Bernstein……I love you❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇮🇱………forever! I miss you,Lenny. You were a great conductor,Lenny❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏。 New York City will remember you,Lenny………forever❣️

[@MrTann2010]

32:30 to 32:45, I've never heard those 4 chords more together. Incredible precision by both Bernstein and the LSO.

[@matzek.9119]

Sibelius and Bernstein. A wonderful couple.

[@michelekett8450]

Sibelius made the Cosmos sing and Bernstein let us hear it. Beautiful performance.

[@craigjohnson7152]

Bravo! A whole symphony of sound presented as Sibelius portrait of Finland.

[@AudiophiliaChannel]

Incredible. And the stars in that orchestra, Jimmy Galway, Barry Tuckwell, Denis Wick, Neville Marriner, Gervase de Peyer, and many others.

[@FullmoonFlute]

I was just admiring the sounds of woodwinds (very much including the flutes) and brass. It`s beautiful and powerful, both at the same time. Thanks a lot for that information about the great musicians! It clarifies all the magical glow I love.

[@AeolianMusica]

Noticed the same. Who are the orchestra?

[@andreaguarino8207]

This is much better than his last performance with the Vienna Philharmonic

[@scuunjieng]

deeply appreciate your pointing that out

[@scuunjieng]

I have watched this many times. thank you fro this wonderful post of Bernstein at his most dynamic prime.

[@catslikethief]

the last movement certainly is fast. I like how Bernstein starts off with a lightening fast tempo then gradually slows it down to dramatize the entry of the horns. the result is stunning...

[@davidparrish2534]

Best Sibelius 5th I have ever heard!!!

[@Alix777.]

lmao

[@omegamale7880]

What about his NYPO version?

[@FullmoonFlute]

Just so soulful and glorious, a performance full of flame of life.

[@joeinsomniac3180]

Begin this video at 11:35:18pm to start your new year off right.

[@oscarignacioolavarriaaquev8363]

Magnética conducción de. Bernstein, imposible dejar de verlo, probablemente fue su debut en Londres y es obvio la pieza más apropiada, los ingleses son sibelianos fanáticos, hermoso espectáculo, aplausos apoteósicos al final!!!! PropuadaOnzxuccionxe

[@ollistalstrom6997]

I spent my childhood summers close to Sibelius' home in Järvenpää, Finland. I learned to love Finnish nature, forests and lakes. My favorites are the whooper swans of Lake Tuusulanjärvi, the sounds of which Siberlius immortalized in the finale of his symphony number five.

[@brunoporfirio264]

Thank you for this video! This is a masterpiece!

[@bernadetegomesespindula5743]

O maestro deu um show de interpretação!

[@RootlessNZ]

Que otima!

[@danielaguilera474]

This performance is such a gift from the universe. Everything went so right❤

[@pjdonagh]

All round perfection....fabulous music ...flawlessly performed and driven by a vision and interpretation that suited Bernstein perfectly. I do not know when this was recorded but time has not eroded the stellar quality of this performance. Very many thanks for this upload.

[@geoffmarchant]

It was recorded at the Fairfield Halls Croydon in November 1966 with the LSO. I know this because I was at the concert

[@spatzamsel5814]

Immortal performance. Thank you so very much for the upload!

[@garfreed]

Masterpiece !!

[@ДмитрийКоростелев-н3в]

Genius! And fantastic interpretation!

[@lehmannudo7284]

Oh what a great orchestra was the LSO in this years absolut top see also Brahms and Dvorak under Kertesz!!!.

[@andreaguarino8207]

Lenny is a god

[@frankfiello7904]

So somebody previous said it was recorded in 1965, amazing not one female in the orchestra! I listen to youtube classical every morning. First time I have noticed this no matter the orchestra. My granddaughter is an oboe player among many other instruments. So glad she lives now so she can have these opportunities. Really enjoyed Leonard Bernstein"s interpretation.

[@geoffmarchant]

It was, in fact, recorded in November 1966 at the Fairfield Halls Croydon. How do I know? I was there. At that time, there were only a handful of lady musicians playing with the top London and European orchestras. Luckily times have changed.

[@williamdonahue6617]

There were no women in the Berlin Philharmonic until about 1983. Karajan insisted on it, and some orchestra members resisted even at that late date.

[@danielaguilera474]

That end makes me feel like im slowly realizing, whoa im starting to fly like a bird! Then the final notes! seems so tricky! So much pressure! That silence! It almost sounds like swans in the sky saying goodbye

[@MD-md4th]

That’s how I have always felt. The final chords are the swans saying ‘good-bye’, disappearing into the haze.

[@danielaguilera474]

@M D exactly 😀! I usually think with a lake as well but im sure it's different for everyone

[@armandogabba2540]

Super extra gosh! You can say anything you want about this Guy ...slow Tempo...fast tempo..but He knew for sure what a conductor has to do with an orchestra.

[@annakimborahpa]

Maestro Bernstein in his full glory starting at 28:48.

[@williamdonahue6617]

Music by Jan Sibelius, interpretive dance by Leonard Bernstein.

[@michelekett8450]

Maestro Bernstein from the very start.

[@ManuelCerquera-bh7sb]

Que año es ?

[@nocomment2468]

Last mvt at 23:37

[@lelemsays]

Thanks

[@johnhowes7133]

Bernstein's version of the Sibelius 5th is completely different from Karajan's. But as far as I'm concerned, they're both magnificent. This one by Bernstein with the London Symphony is really fantastic, better than the ones he did with New York and Vienna.

[@williamdonahue6617]

A third very different, but no less fine version, of this symphony is by Herbert Blomstedt and the San Francisco Symphony. They did some very fine Sibelius recordings together, the antithesis of Karajan's heavily upholstered sound.

[@gabrielmeruelo3158]

It's hard for me to understand why Sibelius didn't compose for the last thirty years of his life. His violin concerto is something insuperable. Gabe Meruelo.

[@ilokivi]

Sibelius began work on an eighth symphony, but was dissatisfied with it being aware that his powers of composition were waning with age and eventually disposed of it. While he arranged pieces towards the end of his life, he did not feel that he could compose anything new that was worth playing or hearing and instead chose silence.

[@hillcresthiker]

@@ilokivi Not much more he could have done after his 7th- similar to why Mahler couldnt go further than his 9th

[@Jmay6901]

1988 Leonard Bernstein showing a young conductor how to make the accelerando in the scherzo of Sibelius 5... kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZmwhKOnra6NfMU Compare with 1966 performance 8:23

[@dbmec049]

The 1st student conducting Sibelius 5 starts at 42:27

[@daviddd99]

From 23:40 - don't think I've heard this section performed as fast as this ever - frenetic. Compared with Bernstein, Vladimir Ashkenazy's pace is practically funereal. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYrCcqOJmq6ii6s

[@montanamontana80]

1965

[@lionsloin7869]

London, per below

[@annazeman8521]

Recorded in 1965, I think.

[@pegalob]

Close.. It was at the end of 1966 according to the LSO archives

[@geoffmarchant]

@@pegalob Correct, December 1966 at the Fairfield Halls Croydon and broadcast for the BBC in January 1967. I was at the concert

[@giampieroaudino7318]

Troppo veloce il finale!

[@selfunderstandingb8135]

don't forget New York

[@armandogabba2769]

Directly from Mars….

[@bktx1975]

Pretty quick tempo to start the 3rd mvt

[@duffault05]

though i love Bernstein, on this one i prefer Karajan. This is too fast.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

The world would be boring if you ran it. Same-ville for everything.

[@leoalex2001]

my dude this is sibelius 2

[@Ichioku]

Definitely #5

[@leoalex2001]

@@Ichioku you are absolutely right I have no idea why I thought so

[@superalbatross]

I stopped watching after the dull and distorted horn and timpani playing. This is not music to me

[@davidmathews7941]

You poor thing

[@superalbatross]

@@davidmathews7941 You're a bastard. My personal opinion has nothing to do with you.

[@sarahjones-jf4pr]

@@superalbatross There are definitely some distorted brass playing even from the beginning...Not at all the Bernstein usual rendition standard.

[@oscarignacioolavarriaaquev8363]

Qué pregunta más estúpida.....no sabe leer acaso??

[@charleslynching]

I'm sure there's a lot of psychiatrists that can help you with this warp in your personality