R. Strauss - An Alpine Symphony (Proms 2012)

Prom 75: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra -- Haydn & R. Strauss
R. Strauss - An Alpine Symphony
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bernard Haitink conductor
Royal Albert Hall, 7 September 2012

[@RHampton]

I listened to this while riding a bus through the Alps. I have no regrets.

[@bengunn99]

Should be subtitled The Goosebump Symphony. Never fails with me.

[@BlueStarCadet08]

Ja sicher, die Gänsehautsinfonie

[@bienvenidoflorentino6238]

How i wish one of the audience

[@merida2100]

A splendid performance. Controlled yet full of emotion. I watched this live soon after my wife's death from cancer in summer of that year. It was uplifting and in Sunset I felt her spirit giving me hope and love for the future - a truly remarkable piece of music.

[@dieterseattle]

young peter Strauss can do this. He lays proper claim to being the supreme composer of the 20th century.

[@michaelwojcik2597]

@@dieterseattle tough one. mahler was 20th century too!

[@michaelwojcik2597]

i’m sorry for your loss. good things come from music

[@dst0212]

Dein Verlust tut mir sehr leid, Gott segne Dich und Deine Familie. Deine Frau ist an einem besseren und schöneren Ort, ❤

[@rossleo4602]

Dr. Strauss - one of classical music's finest orchestrators of any period. He was better than almost anyone at the painting of musical pictures through his sometimes miraculous tone poems. And such delightful music as well!

[@rd3ster]

The Vienna Philharmonic is unsurpassable. The Royal Albert Hall was built for just such musical splendor.

[@TheTimeBeing]

my favorite part is the "calm before the storm"... i can picture it all like i just saw it. There is a stillness, there is no wind, no anything, its all just... calm. and then a few droplets of rain as the clouds come rolling in... followed by the wind picking up, as well as the rain. it's amazing how one can create such a scene through music alone... i can't imagine how moving it would be to hear that in person. bravo

[@briancox3050]

I 100% agree with you, very well described. Excellent piece by a genius

[@Bu-bo-Bu-bo]

Strauss (and Wagner, let be honest) are the true masters of horns, brass and all metal things.

[@jackhamm1745]

They were the real "heavy metal' guys, I agree!

[@hornalicious]

Hence why John Williams took it to heart! As an example...

[@graavy]

Don't forget Mahler!

[@victorcubillos8946]

Und Bruckner!

[@cerealbowl7038]

I agree. The glockenspiel was amazing.

[@AFGalopp]

Literally the reason why I took my bachelor and master degrees in horn.

[@paullewis2413]

Yes there’s something special those VPO horns, ideal of course for this symphony.

[@DorEnErnil]

On the Summit & Vision (23:00-31:42) is literally some of the best, most emotional music I have EVER heard (that's the highest praise I can muster).

[@steveburrus5526]

Well except for ALL of ERachmaninoff's music yes I agree with you. It's just about the most melodious music I have ever heard.

[@fieldagent59isintheforest32]

I followed the story to get to your section,... you like the transcendent,... it feels like you are flying off the top of the mountain when you listen to these sections..

[@ciupenhauer]

@@steveburrus5526 it's very ascendant and heroic, which I suppose is the reason why some people gravitate towards this kind of melody/Wagnerian inspired uplifting type, and some prefer more of Rach's melancholy. They are both extremely melodic in their own ways, no doubt

[@AndrewKosinskicomposer]

I listen to music like this and wonder why there's any problems in the world. This is why I want to be a composer. I respect them more than anyone else. They have found the best way to unite many groups of diverse people towards a common goal. The end result is the most mind blowing music that has ever been created. I'm a teenager. I'm grateful that instead of doing drugs and being a jerk I can experience Strauss' epic adventure.

[@michaelmclaughlin8339]

You can learn not to be a jerk. It takes a couple of girlfriends however and some pain. Doing drugs? Never stop there. Don't do tobacco or alcohol, now that is stupid.

[@annakimborahpa]

Let the composer himself convey what this symphony means to him, writing in his journal upon the death of Gustav Mahler in 1911 (according to Wikipedia): "It is clear to me that the German nation will achieve new creative energy only by liberating itself from Christianity ... I shall call my alpine symphony: Der Antichrist, since it represents: moral purification through one's own strength, liberation through work, worship of eternal, magnificent nature." How did this "new creative energy" work out for Strauss's beloved Germany, in the light of the subsequent World Wars I and II (which he managed to survive, passing away in 1949)?

[@g.r.6955]

Well, it is obvious that it did not. In C. G. Jung's words, Christianity was always like "a cloak worn over age-old primitiveness" for the average European. It was not that the German nation needed to liberate themselves from Christianity, but that they had to be aware of the pagan and primitive within. Wotan, the God of war, was awakened and had his revenge on them. My grandfather lost his life becasue of the Second World War, my parents suffered tremendously. To this day, so do his children, including myself. How can such a creative nation that makes such great music be so primitive? Could it be because they lack what every religion tries to teach: Humility????

[@bilbobaggins7017]

Or be like Berlioz and do both drugs and compose music

[@dieterseattle]

With that attitude I'd say you have an admirable future. Keep right on!!!

[@Tokgabi]

One of the most incredible works I have heard thus far.

[@bencrowbeardfletton9510]

25:16 makes you feel good to be alive.

[@raphaelhudson]

Fantastic, wonderful vienna horns roaring

[@jgesselberty]

To think that some critics dismissed this work as a mere travelogue. It is a marvel of imagination and orchestration

[@leestamm3187]

One of several things I've learned in over 70 years of life is that the opinions of critics, whatever their supposed credentials, are of no more value than yours or mine. As Mahler said, the listener's is the only opinion that really matters.

[@PeterLunowPL]

@@leestamm3187 I whole heartedly agree as a 67 year old musician

[@user-vo6oq1bv8x]

Unbelievable Orchestration. Strauss is the Greatest Composer, proud of German culture

[@amfortas1978]

I was there in that evening. Wiener violins were so brightly loud and shining that they competed with full brass in the climax! Incredible strings.

[@briananano2523]

Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony) 0:10 Nacht (Night) 3:45 Sonnenaufgang (Sunrise) 5:16 Der Anstieg (The Ascent) 7:45 Eintritt in den Wald (Entry into the Forest) 13:14 Wanderung neben dem Bache (Wandering by the Brook) 14:05 Am Wasserfall (At the Waterfall) 14:21 Erscheinung (Apparition) 15:11 Auf blumigen Wiesen (On Flowering Meadows) 16:06 Auf der Alm (On the Alpine Pasture) 18:28 Durch Dickicht und Gestrüpp auf Irrwegen (Through Thickets and Undergrowth on the Wrong Path) 20:03 Auf dem Gletscher (On the Glacier) 21:17 Gefahrvolle Augenblicke (Dangerous Moments) 22:51 Auf dem Gipfel (On the Summit) 28:03 Vision (Vision) 31:38 Nebel steigen auf (Mists Rise) 31:56 Die Sonne verdüstert sich allmählich (The Sun Gradually Becomes Obscured) 32:48 Elegie (Elegy) 34:41 Stille vor dem Sturm (Calm Before the Storm) 37:36 Gewitter und Sturm, Abstieg (Thunderstorm and Tempest, Descent) 41:54 Sonnenuntergang (Sunset) 44:40 Ausklang (Quiet Settles / Epilogue) 50:17 Nacht (Night)

[@calebmknight]

On the Summit bring a niqqa to tears

[@waltergrohotolski2149]

Fantastisches Werk, fantastisches Orchester!

[@briancox3050]

What an awesome amazing alpine journey I've just been on. This truly epic performance with the VPO ranks as total perfection as far as I'm concerned. The main beautiful theme that runs through this majestic music makes the hairs on the back of my head stand to attention as does that incredible powerful thunderstorm part with the hardworking lads on percussion which of course includes the great sound of the wind machine. I really wish that I'd been there at the Albert Hall on that day but nevertheless I can listen to this piece of excellent Strauss anytime I like as I still have it on an old cassette by the LAPO/ Mehta.

[@nannojonkers3817]

Haitink by now, after Von Karajan, Kempe and others in modern recordings, has grown for me into 'the King of the Alpine'. Nowhere else nowadays this total grasp on the whole and this peculiar Straussian mix of tension and serenity. To mention just two superior features of this unsurpassed rendition.

[@paullewis2413]

Certainly this is a revelation after the limp performance given by Fabio Luisi in this hall with the Dresden Staatskapelle.

[@davidthompson8640]

37 min on -- best storm sequence ever composed -- especially for those who have experienced it in high mountains!

[@shannoni86]

Easily one of my new favorite symphonies. I discovered it when I was invited to see the Cleveland Orchestra perform it in September. It did not disappoint and legitimately moved me to tears. It's so beautiful. Words can't do it justice.

[@jimmythetrumpet6915]

+shannoni86 Sure is a fantastic piece. Although I think it's actually a tone poem, not a symphony.

[@shannoni86]

Thank you! I wasn't sure of the right terminology. :)

[@MattMinecraft4]

The Conclusion is always a tear-jerker.

[@ClaudioBritoPlaylist61]

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, sempre um Espetáculo! Brilhante!

[@anepictree]

How lovely to have such a nice selection of adverts pop up every two minutes, easy listening at its best. Thanks for this

[@GreenTeaViewer]

try listening on PC with AdBlock Plus

[@angelalfonsorojasquiroz5936]

Sinfonía como la Naturaleza, calma antes de la Tormenta, y de pronto las vicisitudes de la vida tormentosamente azotandonos en todos los aspectos de vida; después inicia la calma de nuevo y preguntándonos qué hice para merecer todo esto, sufrimos lloramos, nos arrastramos y finalmente despertamos a Conciencia y viene la Reflexión de que todo es para Progresar Espiritualmente y al fin Poder decir Comulgue con el Creador y toda la Vida tiene entonces tiene Sentido.

[@TINSTAAFL1]

I always love the brass in Straus' work.

[@JoePalau]

I completely agree. I am now in my 70's and I have felt as you do since early adolescence. YT is a wonder with all its rich resources in classical music and opera. Recordings and performance I only heard spoken of over the years are available to the public and at home!! Miracles do happen!! :)

[@zgytc]

Sublime! Word cannot describe the beauty of this piece of music by Strauss and the superb performance by the Wiener Phiharmoniker.

[@pompeacolpo9917]

Grandiosa questa sinfonia ! Ogni ascolto mi fa rivivere un viaggio nella meravigliosa natura e nelle maestose Montagne . Grande l'orchestra e passionale

[@jacobsmall3948]

I would be going so crazy as and audience member!! one of the most well balanced performances I've ever heard!

[@waqasahmed3422]

Majestic work, breathtaking performance! It ends as it begins, describing all the colors of the rainbow of life, telling us the big life story.

[@leestamm3187]

Beautiful performance of this majestic composition. Haitink always delivered the goods.

[@1Mand4]

Close your eyes and go on the most extraordinary Alpine journey imaginable

[@nadyamuray2913]

Very powerful music and a splendid performance....thanks for the post.....

[@roberthull7222]

Nadya Muray /

[@kevinm.dasilva3417]

Maravilhoso!!!.. lindo de ver o sofrimento e esforço dos metais no agudo!.. sinfonia do outro mundo parabéns! !!

[@RodM.Peters]

Fantastic to see people spellbound and carried away by intense feelings. The healing power of a higher form of music here and one of those soaring achivements of the race that we should all be proud of.

[@peterexner728]

Madness and genius from Germany Richard Strauss !!!

[@kcwkid1994]

I literally cried at 27:18

[@user-zt9pg5ls6n]

Magnificent performance thank you for sharing

[@nannojonkers3817]

Gorgeous performance, perfectly balanced and structured;as mostly with Haitink. On CD: H. with the RCO at the time he was its principle conductor. Same level, different sound. Gold: W.Ph. Silver (as precious): RCO.

[@niltonmarques2891]

Algo tão maravilhoso, não canso de ouvir!!..muito lindo 👏👏👏👏👏

[@AnnaMariaBarbastefano]

SUPER MEGA EXTRAORDINARY SYMPHONY - NOTHING SIMILAR. IT´S UNIQUE AND PERFECT I CAN SAY DIVINE. SUPERB.

[@doriandobric8474]

After this simphony there is no need to visit Austran Alps, there are not enough words to describe feelings beautifull

[@aguador67]

I don't agree. Although you listen this work a hundred times the best visit you can do in the Alps is to walk in there. A musical work can't be a praise for laziness.

[@chrishaines1677]

dorian dobric And the Appalachians.

[@dst0212]

Ich liebe die Blechbläser ❤❤❤❤❤

[@niltonmarques2891]

Música divina....emocionante demais não canso de assistir!!!

[@MrDaveyboy125]

In an urban society, everything connects...

[@stevenharwood5362]

Threads.

[@kermitthemutantlevitatingf7836]

being told to hold back on bass trombone in this piece must be heartbreaking. My condolences to all the bass trombonists of the world whose conductors decided to not let you blast pedal Gs during "On the Summit"

[@prabhudhasivanson7110]

Wonderful rendition

[@Threepi80]

Horn Heaven.

[@tylera86]

Off stage brass is always such a nice touch

[@5758Wanderer]

Great Haitink and Wiener Philharmoniker!!! This is an excellent performance!

[@user-vo6oq1bv8x]

Greatest Symphony in history of MUSIC.

[@briancox3050]

Although it's called Alpine Symphony I suspect a Tone Poem might well be it's correct name. But hey!! whatever it's called still remains THE GREATEST.

[@omarp374]

Fantástico -se siente estar en las cumbres del himalaya.

[@thxdts1999]

Great work as always thanks Richard Strauss love your MUSiC

[@maxhollick6178]

young peter what a w'ondeful thought I'm sure she was with you in spirit of a great performance god bless

[@tjs9]

I don't know anything about Vienna horns, but it looks so much harder to play those versus a normal horn. Especially this piece!! Bravo!

[@ripollbrucs1]

Bravo!!

[@evorock]

I can wait to play this in my new orchestra in October, its going to be amazing. Such a gorgeous piece although the 1st violin part looks...interesting lol

[@anacarolinasoares4544]

Amazing amazing

[@TpVnMasa]

20:03 trumpet solo

[@Yuntoll11]

Sehr Mysterische Schönheit & Majestätisch Sinfoniefarbe! Richard Strauss-Alpen Sinfonie-Prima Gespielt! ※추천음악 Meisterdirigent- Bernard Haitink & Wienner Philharmoniker

[@noirvalentin]

What a sound.... truly impressive

[@user-mh3my5pw6s]

40:43 ウィンドマシーンとサンダーシート

[@georgiepentch]

41:45 the calm after the storm

Just today I've introduced myself to Dvorak's _Rusalka_, Dukas' _Ariane et Barbe Bleue_ (like, he wrote something other than the _Sorcerer's Apprentice_, am I right?) and now this magnificent _Alpine Symphony_. It's a lot to take in all at once, but it just fascinates how _inexhaustible_ of a fountain an orchestra is. And there's still _so_ much exploration to be done by each one of us, classical enthusiasts...

[@TheVaughan5]

I've been discovering orchestral music since I was around 13 and I'm now 58 and still making new discoveries! The so called "core repertory" played by the major orchestras so so unbelievably tiny compared to what is out there and I'm talking first class music not second rate stuff.

Yes, the sea is vast. I usually end up exhausting onde composer at a time. Right now I'm focusing a lot on Brahms. There's this playlist of concert excerpts from Berliner Philharmoniker on YT that is really good as an introductory platform to the composer's music (I mean, beyond his 5th Hungarian Dance). Actually, I should listen some more of it right now.

[@steveburrus5526]

Sergio youj are a better classical music afficianado than I am if you have explored Dvorak's "Rusalka" opera which I haven't gone anywhere near yet in my life.

[@geoffcushnet3675]

Steve, go for it! Especially Rene Fleming and Bernard Heppner, with the Czech Phil under Mackerras! The first time I heard Rusalka, I could not believe that I had never heard it before. I was completely hooked, and now it is firmly among my very favourite operas. Having said that, this work is up there with the best as well. (and I won't forget Rachmaninov, who never fails me!)

[@Kyubiwan]

41:45 Sunset... Calm after the storm

[@markbarrett4440]

Was used highly effectively in the opening seconds of THREADS. As if that film even requires any further enhancement to induce terminal despair...

[@kesawk1]

Słuchałbym i słuchał. Nigdyby mi się nie nudziło.

[@kesawk1]

Msjestat Alp świetnie uchwycony.

[@tommyderthomas]

boooooooy - that`s great !!!! thanks again fot the upload i really really hope to visit a public viewing event of the proms in 2013 !! greetz from Germany.

[@marielaurencegonzalez2400]

MAGNIFIQUE

[@user-wp4ju4hp5w]

Wow! Those off stage French Horns at 7:03 are amazing

[@nikosevergreen6582]

Outstandind atmosphere!...

[@dranguetprod]

Extraordinary beautiful sound from the Wiener, an incredible performance for a major work.

[@BrucknerMotet]

36:41 truly remarkable sequence begins here.

[@paulybarr]

It is short for the word ' promenade', and refers to the fact that the front stall seats are removed, leaving the audience members to move about ( or 'promenade' during the performance, if they wish.

[@agelessprajna2955]

excellent conducting

[@pega17pl]

Somewhere read at web: close windows, turn-up the volume to the max, later call your glazier. This performance is worth to do.

[@claudebabin1505]

Sublime.

[@pedromaio6212]

Thanks. I used it on my portuguese lesson. Peter M.

[@mivanino]

Awesome

[@joemathers3707]

Fucking brilliant!!!!

[@nicolasputallaz]

Symphonie montagnarde grande course d'alpinisme musicale

[@almarkhat6379]

I recommend the extended commentary made on Strauss's art and its relation to tradition and separateness fro contemporary styles by Glenn Gould. It's on you tube. Extremely penetrating critic.

[@michaelhiggins5341]

Maybe that is why the Vienna Philharmonic is the world's greatest orchestra hands down.

[@user-vo6oq1bv8x]

Strauss work on this Masterpiece about 3-4 years!!! During the 1 world War.

[@guardsdepot]

The conclusion has been the graveyard for many a brass player who does not have the ideal embouchure to do REALLY QUIET................

[@zainababid4307]

whos here from school.

[@iVan_Bomzh_Kvass]

Nobody man.

[@user-ro8ee6fy8r]

симфоническая поэма - Альпийская симфония, op. 64. Которую Рихард Штраус закончил 8 февраля 1915 года. До самого последнего момента сочинение носило заголовок «Антихрист. Альпийская симфония», который указывал на одноимённое сочинение Ф.Ницше

[@andrewbanks7472]

Only the great German masters knew how to orchestrate for brass.

[@jonathansalcedo2522]

And Austrian. You can't forget Mahler.

[@annakimborahpa]

I wouldn't Bank(s) on it.

[@peterexner728]

That's right R, Strauss was a great German composer !!!

[@aguador67]

I think you forget Carl Nielsen, who, before he was a well-known composer, he played trombone in some orchestras, so he knew well how to make the brass sound.

[@BambosNeophytou]

Yeah, right ... Ravel, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Nielsen, Sibelius, Verdi, Elgar knew nothing about orchestrating for brass!!!!!

[@Levill91]

@37:30 The Power!!!

[@luisangelsalazaravila9059]

2nd vln excerpt 46:50

[@michaelhiggins5341]

Feminists in America would raise Holy Hell if the New York Symphony only had two female members.

[@mastacheifa1182]

I love how slow this song is at the beginning, yet in my marching band, we march it at 168 beats per minute... xD

[@steveburrus5526]

tjhis is hardly a SONG! It's one of R . S trauss's full blown symphonic tone poems.

[@_alicia__]

7:00 yES.

[@casual720]

42:06

[@reynard61]

One of these days someone's got to conduct this in surround-sound to get the full effect of those off-stage horns.

[@jeremythomas4744]

Without the coughing audience please

[@reynard61]

@@jeremythomas4744 Oh yeah. Definitely a *studio* recording!

[@kimjh7936]

4:01 일출

[@peterfeltham5612]

Trumpets a little uncertain in parts.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

It's the Vienna Philharmonic. Their Trumpet section has always been wanting a bit.

[@fabiusgraco5296]

Excuse me, but the trumpets, and the rest of the metals, as sound perfectly asks score. There is no abnormality in metals. Moreover, as is well known, the metals of German orchestras are always a separate chapter. The sound you get this fabulous orchestra is something perfect. Let us not forget that we are talking about the Vienna Philharmonic, which speaks for itself and presentations.

[@cpthornman]

Fabius Graco He's right. There are plenty of videos out there where the trumpets make some pretty awful sounds. They have always been the most inconsistent section of the brass for as long as i can remember.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

Fabius Graco I havr numerous recordings and have seen numerous live performances on TV dating back to the 70's. The trumpets were always the weak spot in that orchestra.

[@ibizaking]

not when Hans Gansch and Hans Peter Schuh were playing.

[@r53caspar]

Those Coughers!!