Reacting to the 1812 Overture Live | Cannons in the Orchestra

[@SoGal_YT]

Thanks for watching! Like and subscribe if you enjoyed this video 👍🏻 Follow me on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/sogal.yt/ Twitter: twitter.com/SoGal_YT Facebook Page: facebook.com/SoGal-104043461744742 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/238616921241608

[@timdyer5326]

Tchaikovsky. Brings you a step closer to history. The impacts of the Napoleonic wars were long lasting. Swan lake and the nutcracker suite also beautiful. Such a soft touch from a hard country with hard history.

[@manasvaidya4236]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5LbeIGHepqNgqM you need to react to this because you wouldn't know the history of your anthem.......👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️

[@scabthecat]

Comments aren't even necessary. Just being willing to listen is enough. ( although most yoof doesn't believe it so, advice from older generations is just the wisdom of experience that they are trying to pass on. I didn't believe such advice when I was young. Only time taught me the error of my ways.)

[@karenblackadder1183]

Those standing are the Promenaders.

[@stamasd8500]

There is a recording of this performance by the Japanese Army orchestra, in which they used real 155mm howitzers for the percussion parts. :)

[@elaines5750]

Had the honor of playing this overture a number of times. Ended up in tears at the end of this video. Bravo Tchaikovsky!

[@ScottAndrewMcNamara]

He also wrote Swan Lake which is one of his most well known pieces of music.

[@mrgrinch8540]

its probably this piece or the nutcracker suite

[@davidcook7887]

Absolutely brilliant ballet. Pure pop!

[@mrgrinch8540]

@@davidcook7887 i dont like turkey jerky

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

Nutcracker is probably his most famous

[@suec9426]

I’ve had the privilege of hearing the 1812 Overture played live outdoors, with cannon and fireworks, annually for many, many years. The Victoria (BC, Canada) Symphony Orchestra played it as the finale of the orchestra’s free Symphony Splash fundraising event. They played from a barge in Victoria’s beautiful inner harbour to an audience of thousands gathered around the waterfront in front of the beautiful Parliament Buildings and inner harbour. Knowing the story of this overture is important and I learned a little more from your video. I can’t hear it without tearing up and being incredibly moved. The pandemic and other considerations ended the Symphony Splash event as it was. I’m not sure if the new, multi-day summer events include the 1812 Overture. I’ll have to check them out this year. Thanks for covering this great piece of music. Glad to have found your channel - I am now subscribed. 🙏👍🏻

[@bobhughes2290]

Loved your extra added pyro discussion. It's always nice to hear from somebody talking about something they've actually done and really enjoyed.

[@dianeknight4839]

I took part in the 1812 many years ago, we marched through the auditorium and up into the balcony above the stage. we had a small cannon and 12 muskets. Which we fired at the end in sync to the music. It took some practice to know at which point in the music we loaded our muskets. It was an amazing experience.

[@miketriggs2156]

Saw the 1812 overture performed by an orchestra in Portsmouth uk in the 70’s the cannons were played on a giant drum however on the first shot the drumstick went straight through the drum. The orchestra collapsed in laughter like a wave spreading out from the drum behind them as they realised what had happened. It was hilarious to watch.

[@RippPryde]

This live performance was part of The Proms, which is a yearly music tradition in the UK. The highlight of the event is the "last night" of The Proms, which is always a spectacular display of music and history that really stirs the soul. The audience gets really involved, brings a flag from their country (always lots of American/Irish/British flags) sings and dances along. Its a pretty special occasion I think you'd really enjoy watching!

[@peterbridges5781]

Ah, I was gonna mention and suggest the BBC Proms, seems I was beaten to it.

[@daveofyorkshire301]

The BBC tried to get rid of it, so much for the British Broadcasting Corporation, the sooner they're gone the better. #DefundTheBBC it is perfectly legal to cancel your TV license if you don't watch live broadcast TV, streaming/library services are not live broadcast TV and you do not need a license.

[@maximushaughton2404]

@@daveofyorkshire301 The BBC did not try to get rid of the Proms, why would they it's a big success. What you mean is, they talked about not doing Rule, Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. To which they said they could, but were not going to. Then The Times reported that they were as the conductor, Dalia Stasevska, wanted to drop them, to mordernise the Last Night. So it was really a none story, which the BBC got blamed for, but because the government needed a distraction at the time, picked it up and ran with it. So it got blown up out of all proportion. Please note I am not saying there are not problems with the BBC, but this was not one of them.

[@daveofyorkshire301]

@@maximushaughton2404 A very short memory, I won't even try and remind you of what was a national embarrassment caused by them. If you can't remember, look it up.

[@maximushaughton2404]

@@daveofyorkshire301 I did, that's why I could name the condutor. It's just I don't believe the right wing hype.

[@franl155]

I've heard this overture loads of times, but the explanation at the beginning really gave me an insight that I never had before, and increased my appreciation. Thank you for playing it all the way through with no pauses; music, especially when hearing it for the first time, really has to be played all-in-one to get the full effect. Love the total silence from the audience; showing proper respect for the music and the musicians. A Russian general later said something to the effect that the Russian Army had two extra generals, General Frost and General Snow. They, plus the scorched-earth policy giving the French no food or shelter, were what defeated them. And Hitler never studied history, it seems.

[@ChrisAndCats]

Have you ever heard Portsmouth Sinfonia's version? It's a masterpiece 😂

[@franl155]

@@ChrisAndCats - I may have done, but not knowingly! I'll have to find that version, thanks for the tip.

[@ChrisAndCats]

@@franl155 brace yourself is all I can say 🤣

[@franl155]

@@ChrisAndCats - 8-D

[@ChrisAndCats]

@@franl155 let me know what you think - the 2001 Space Oddysey is outstanding done by them. And In the Hall of the Mountain Kings 😂

[@allenwilliams1306]

That was a BBC Promenade Concert in London's Royal Albert Hall. However, the orchestra was the Halle from Manchester. They and their Music Director, Sir Mark Elder, deserve a credit.

[@Richard_Ashton]

My home city - The greatest ever (obviously).

[@pedramhadipour5914]

The population of Moscow in 1812 was around 270 000. Today the population is around 12,5 million. This makes Moscow one of the largest cities in Europe.

[@MarkVrem]

From quick reading, I did just now. In the video, they mentioned people started evacuating Moscow 30 days before the arrival of the French Army. The Nobility of Moscow evacuated and retreated to their country homes outside the city according to a Quora post source the book Peace and War. I am assuming since this was a religious war in the minds of Russians, these nobles would have offered other, less off Moscovites' stay and cover. Obviously poorer people would have gone to stay at churches and hospitals outside the city and in other towns, villages, and cities... That kind of answers that question/mystery for me at least. Dropping it here if anyone else was wondering. SIDENOTE: Hospitals before they became hospitals, were actually places travelers without shelter could stay at. Back in those days, most travelers would stay at homes during travels of people similar to their class level. It was normal to have guests over that were complete strangers. To get stories and info on what was going on in other parts of the country. But hospitals were created for those that had no place to stay or were extremely poor, or sick.

[@marcuswardle3180]

I love it when the cannons go off in this symphony, especially when you’re there!

[@PhilHarmonicus]

It's not a symphony. The clue is in the title.

[@sitting_nut]

some of tchaikovshy’ other great works include his symphony no. 6, ‘pathétique' and his other symphonies, ballets swan lake, the sleeping beauty, the nutcracker, etc, operas including eugene onegin, queen of spades, Iolanta, etc, and other music like piano concerto no. 1 , "seasons", slavic march, etc etc

[@Johnadams20760]

i totally agree. i got to play his 6th symphony up at interlochen music camp. it is awesome!

[@frank9446]

The reason the audience was standing in the central arena is because this was part of the BBC Proms season where the audience can obtain standing tickets throughout the season. You will remember that the Last night of the Proms featured a boisterous audience who join in with the singing of patriotic songs. Whilst that is a very unique event in the Proms calendar, standing tickets are always available throughout the season.

[@SuperBenkoo]

I have a vinyl with this music, absolutly a fantastic recording which is one of the first pieces of musis I bought, and I still enjoy listening to it very much.

[@chriscann7627]

The central "un-burnt" section of Moscow is the Kremlin fortress and palace, which was protected by its high walls.

[@toiletsauce_]

Ironically, it was Napoleon and his entourage that saved the Kremlin from the fire. "People with brooms and buckets of water climbed on top of the Kremlin kitchens to brush off embers and soak the roof, saving the building. Guardsmen managed to put out a fire in the Kremlin's arsenal as Napoleon looked on." russianlife.com/stories/online/moscows-last-great-fire/

[@chriscann7627]

@@toiletsauce_ largely because it was Napoleon's HQ and residence in Moscow, so he really didn't want it destroyed!

[@UKJack67]

I love the 1812, gifted to me by my Sister when I was but a wee lad and hooked me on Classical Music these past 40 years.

[@serfranke5744]

The documentary about "Cannons in the orchestra" was amazing! I had not known that Tchaikowsky actually was not a big fan of the piece. Reminds me a bit about Beethoven, who also wrote a piece about a victory over Napoleon (Wellington's Victory") and who also did not like it, regarding it as just a result of commissioned work.

[@benj1955]

Thank you for showing this. A wonderful piece of music. I have a vinyl version at home that's about 50 years old, ha ha. About 35 years ago I went to a Tchaikovsky evening at the Royal Albert Hall. The 1812 overture was the final performance, complete with the cannons! Very loud indoors but great fun.

[@barrymiller3385]

Yes, the audience in front of the stage are indeed standing. They are the promenaders at the annual classical music festival the BBC Promenade Concerts. The clear all the seats out of the arena leaving just standing room and a fountain. (The fountain is very useful if anyone should accidentally bring a mobile phone!) I used to promenade regularly when I lived in London. I got to see most of the best orchestras, conductors, soloists and singers in the world for just a fiver! Incredible!!

[@ftumschk]

I lived in London for 11 years, and I still regret that I never managed to get to the Proms. I attended dozens of orchestral/choral concerts at the Festival Hall and the Barbican, and even more operas at Covent Garden and English National Opera, but the Albert Hall passed me by for some reason :(

[@albertbrown7941]

Very cool. The actual percussion and cannon parts are written. The cannon shots should occur at specific intervals.

[@Mymloch]

I really appreciate that you watched the video explaining the piece, and then followed-up with watching it.

[@krisjohnson-proctor355]

That was truly amazing, thank you! Thanks too for the great info..I had no idea what the Overture was about, but shall now be able to hear it and know, which is awesome!

[@owenw1068]

Hey, great video! I don't normally go out of my way to watch live classical performances but I really enjoyed your take and presentation on it. +1 Sub :)

[@aorum3589]

My personal favorites from Tchaikovsky are his serenade for strings op. 48 and Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35. I strongly recommend you to discover the last piece through the French film "Le Concert" released in 2009.

[@petersymonds4975]

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK’s most well known venues. The biggest musical event is probably the Promenade Concert in memory of Henry Wood. This is an 8 week series of concerts, some having themes. One year a concert was Dr Who, another Star Wars themed. The last night culminates in a BBC televised programme with outside broadcasts from all four countries of the UK. The standing area is full of “Promenaders” who join in with music in a very traditional and respectful way of the very over the top and flamboyant playing of the patriotic song “Rule Britannia”. Many versions appear on KZbin, with any luck they may be available in the US. In November the Royal Albert Hall also holds the Royal Remembrance event a military remembrance event to commemorate a memory of the the losses of our military people, especially WW1 & WW2.

[@petersymonds4975]

I forgot to add that Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance March No1 (Land Of Hope And Glory) is also played. There are also KZbin videos for this as well.

[@Johnadams20760]

how many holes does it take to fill the albert hall, they had to count them all

[@EricIrl]

@@Johnadams20760 They counted the holes in Blackburn, Lancashire - and now they know how many fill the Albert Hall.

[@robertglennienz]

Fun fact: Christchurch, N.Z. also has its own two hour (usually in November) Last Night of the Proms with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Until he retired in 2019, a Canadian gentleman named Brian Law conducted each event - it was his signature event. No promenaders though - everyone is seated. Like yours we get to throw confetti, and once or twice there were a huge number of red, white and blue balloons released from the ceiling. A lot of fun.

[@adcatman]

Thank You for a fantastic explanation of the 1812 Overture. I don't 'do' classical but I learnt something today and feel all the better for understanding it. Andy...

[@auscomvic9900]

In Adelaide each year we had the symphony orchestra, the army firing real cannons, and the Cathedral ringing bells

[@pascalpiqued818]

Hello from France. Such relaxed and wonderful appreciation of this and other subjects. A breath of fresh air and a pleasure for me to subscribe too your channel.

[@graemehamilton9966]

Hi, i am a recent subscriber to your channel and find it very entertaining. This piece of music is very emotional and given the story very moving. I am British and lived in California about 30 years ago and found many cultural differences. I applaud your open minded interest in the world and its history and traditions. I sometimes giggle at your ignorance, but please don't be offended , the same as me when I lived in different countries. If you close your eyes and listen to the 1812 Overture, knowing the story, you can imagine the jeopardy and ultimate relief of the Russian people. Keep on being curious.

[@SoGal_YT]

Welcome! Thanks for watching. I lived in L.A. for 7 years and loved California. Been enjoying the learning journey - there’s quite a bit I don’t know 😉

[@radicaladz]

There's a classic meme related to this piece. Someone: Tchaikovsky, cannons are not instruments. Tchaikovsky probably: Yes they are and I'm going to use 21 of them. Someone: Tchaikovsky no. Tchaikovsky: Tchaikovsky yes.

[@Bransfolly]

Nothing beats a live concert at the Royal Albert Hall including the live canons for the 1812

[@edmundsmith3943]

In that performance, I think the organ was used to add to the bells because the organ includes a full set of tubular bells

[@marcuswardle3180]

The people standing are the Promenaders hence ‘The Proms’. A musical festival of classical music. It culminates in the Last Night Of The Proms. A festival of music with the National Anthem, Jerusalem and Auld lan’Syne. There is other music as well especially by Edward Elgar who started the Proms.

[@catherinewilkins2760]

Not Elgar, Henry Woods

[@marcuswardle3180]

@@catherinewilkins2760 Why am I thinking of Elgar then. My mistake you’re correct!

[@arthurerickson5162]

Been watching for a while and really enjoy your videos! If you want another version of The 1812 Overture, outside, with cannons, watch one of the Boston Pops July 4th concerts. 1812 Overture is usually the penultimate piece (cannon provided by a US Army artillery unit), followed by the finale of Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever.

[@PeterDay81]

The 1812 Overture, is a concert overture in E♭ major written in 1880 by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to commemorate the successful Russian defense against Napoleon's invading Grande Armée in 1812.

[@davidgriffiths9156]

Tchaikovsky breaking down la Marseillaise in the 1812 has a resonance with jimmi Hendrix breaking down the Star Spngled Banner at Woodstock. The deconstruction of the theme into many parts, then reconstruction back to the original theme: brilliant

[@simonnewby1215]

i last saw this performed at the Battle Proms, outdoors at Highclere Castle in Berkshire, England. They had 200 replica Napoleonic cannons and it was epic. They then moved to a 30 minute Spitfire display to the sounds of Elgar.

[@Andy_U]

Hiya. You need to check out The BBC Proms, regarded as the world's greatest classical music festival, especially one of the 'Last Nights' - at least the 2nd half finale. Stay safe. All the best to you.

[@chrislawley6801]

My real introduction in school was when I was 12 years old, I was sent to pass a message to another teacher & I took short cut through the school hall to accidentally find the music teacher ( who was not my favourite teacher ) with his back to me playing the violin. That live vibration and feeling, emotion he was playing has never left me to understand the vibrancy & immediacy of classic music. It is difficult to explain though I learnt that can never be felt with those emotions even through the best recording

[@Johnadams20760]

i bet the orchestra memembers playing right by the cannons had their ears ringing for a week

[@paulqueripel3493]

Telarc's vinyl record of the 1812 overture used to be virtually unplayable, most decks couldn't cope with the cannons.

[@starrynight1657]

Great idea to do this. Tchaikovsky is very popular and melodic. He greatly admired Mozart. His rival at the time was Brahms who was thought a successor to Beethoven. Tchaikovsky did all kinds of music but is mainly famous for his orchestral works. His last symphony the 6th is his most famous, followed by the 5th, though 3, 4, 5 and 6 are all great. His 1st piano concerto is very famous. And the violin concerto is also admired. His ballet scores are possibly the best ever. His string serenade is famous. Marche Slave is another programmatic piece based on an historical event. His life story is interesting too, he was homosexual and led a secretive personal life. So while a successful composer his life was still troubled.

[@allenwilliams1306]

Tchaikovsky hated Brahms. In his diary he wrote “I have just played through works of Brahms. What a talentless bastard he is”.

[@antoineduchamp4931]

Indeed, there are people standing in front of the orchestra. This is why it is called the 'Proms' because you can promenade* yourself about. (from French 'se promener'= to walk) The audience have stood like this since the Proms started in 1895. I have done it myself, many times. The atmosphere in this arena is fantastic....

[@barrysullivan59]

Thanks gal. This was an excellent vlog. My biggest problem in life is I can’t seem to decide which is my personal favourite piece of music of all time,this or Gustav Holst The Planet Suite. Each is brilliant in its own way. Many thanks and stay well. Baz in U/K

[@robharris8844U]

It is a beautiful piece and has been used in adverts,movies, tv programmes since with nothing to do with its original theme.

[@johnclapperton5556]

To me this is one of the best pieces of music ever. There are some just as good but none better.

[@iangreenway5580]

If you have seen the movie, “V for Vendetta” then you have heard this music! 😉 There is a month long classical music festival in England called “The Proms” the biggest event of this is this “The Last Night of the Proms”. It is a HUGE night and an amazing festival of classical music and British patriotic music. Now that would be worth you watching!!! Always at the Albert Hall and it would blow your socks off!!! 😉👍

[@davidsavage6910]

It is from the annual promenade concerts at the Royal Albert Hall which are televised by the BBC. The last night of the Proms is a national tradition with flag waving and singing along. This is quite a speedy version, I've heard some much slower.

[@SebastianForal]

I love Tchaikovsky. mad genius.

[@gagatube]

Thanks for this - you taught me a lot about the 1812 overture that I should have known, but didn't. Re: the people standing in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall - the performance is part of a long-standing (excuse the pun) 'educational' series of concerts known as The Proms - which is short for 'promenades' i.e. walk-around, the idea being people could just wander in to the Hall, stand and listen for a bit to sample the glories of classical music and then wander out again without having to sit through the whole performance. The idea of being able to move around and even have conversations during a performance was quite novel at a time when etiquette usually demanded a concert audience sit still and try not to breathe. Originally free (or at least cheap) the promenade section soon became ticket-only since, due to the quality of the those performing at the RAH, hardly anyone left once the performance had begun. The promenaders are only in the 'mosh pit' as it were, the rest of the hall has conventional seating and private boxes like any other grand concert hall. Incidentally, if you want to observe the British at their most Britishiest, take a look at pretty much any recording of 'The Last Night of the Proms'.

[@chriscann7627]

In 1812, def NO church organ effect as organs and other instruments are not allowed in Russian Orthadox worship, only unaccompanied chant. Incidentally, the conductor, Sir Mark Elder is one of the GREAT communicators of music - at his concerts, he often turns to the audience before starting a piece, and gives a little speech about it, always with a fascinating insight.

[@SoGal_YT]

Didn’t know that about the organs, thanks.

[@BlameThande]

@@SoGal_YT Not sure how true this is, but I heard second hand from some Romanians that to this day, you basically can't be an Orthodox priest unless you can carry a tune because, as said above, all the church music is chant-based without instruments.

[@chrislawley6801]

Biggest WOW as in my ignorance I never realised history of this from UK. I have heard this though never from the Russian view as is so different then I realised. Thank you I love learning more with you SoGal here with you

[@richardhaynes5398]

A great interesting video thank you

[@afatninja]

I have performed this a number of times, including at the royal albert hall,, and outside, where we had fireworks going off... very dramatic...... I never got bored playing this piece..

[@tonys1636]

I heard somewhere, maybe a lunchtime news broadcast, that during the dress run and sound check in the morning, it was discovered that someone forgot to isolate the smoke detectors from the fire alarm and the alarm went off, fortunately turned off before the sprinklers activated and the LFB turned up.

[@stephenparker6362]

Hi, apologies for another late comment, I'm still going through your old videos. This was really interesting. The Albert Hall is a magnificent building. This was from the Proms and you mentioned the people standing these are the Promenaders, you will find them at every prom. Just a reminder Last Night is this coming Saturday which I think you'd find interesting in the second half it will include Rule Brittania, Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem, National Anthem and normally Auld Lang Syne. If you can't do live it would be worth doing from a recording. I hope all is going well.

[@B-A-L]

This is the greatest piece of music ever created! I bet you originally thought it was about the American War of 1812!

[@PeterBuwen]

Thank you for your good choice!

[@mdgarciasa]

This review idea was genius!

[@ianpark1805]

The Proms - short for Promenade Concerts (you can walk up and queue - big queue - to get cheap standing tickets on the floor of the RAH) are a weeks long summer series of concerts usually ending in September with the ‘Last Night’. You generally have to qualify for Last Night tickets by (high - I forget the percentage) attendance at the season’s concerts - just buying one is the definition of impossible I think. The Hall is awash with flags (of all nations) and there is a party atmosphere, particularly in the second half finale which usually starts with ‘Pomp and Circumstance March No.1’, includes Henry Wood’s ‘Fantasia on British Sea Songs’ which generally concludes with an over the top performance of ‘Rule Britannia’ ending with the British National Anthem No. 2 ‘Jerusalem’. It’s a curious mixture of party, patriotism, and serious music not being treated totally seriously - have a look at one and see what you think!

[@ianpark1805]

The 2009 version of ‘Rule Britannia’ sung by Sarah Connolly is spectacularly flamboyant!

[@Chumber3403]

“God Save the Tsar” used was the Russian national anthem from 1833 (chosen in a competition) until 1917. Tchaikovsky also used (a larger amount of) this anthem in his less known work “Marche Slave”. Also Marseillaise should be pronounced “Mar-say-airz” (not your mistake, the man in the documentary.)

[@nirfz]

If he just "muted" out the ll's it would come close :-)

[@hanng1242]

He used a couple Serbian folk melodies in Marche Slave as well. It seems that Tchaikovsky was into national leitmotifs.

[@thomasmerkelbach2755]

Nope, Marseillaise has no airz in it. It is pronounced like Mayonnaise,

[@shaunjp2211]

Take look last night of the proms at the Albert Hall. Is very entertaining and patriotic, however American conductors have taken part .

[@Johnadams20760]

this is such an amazing piece of music. btw, there is another very interesting song to listen to, which is a bit longer. i attended a music camp in michigan called Interlochen and one summer we played Schostokovich's , i forget the number symphony right now, but it is called the Leningrad symphony. just the first movement which is just under a half hour. and about 5-10 minutes into it, there is a repeating theme that starts of at a pppp level which is basically 4x softer than soft and for 10 striaght minutes it cresendos to FFFF which is 4 x louder than loud (not sure how much musical terms you know as I am new to this) and it represents germany in ww2 marching toward russia. it is very intersting. i bet you would enjoy it :)

[@Johnadams20760]

7th symphony

[@ftumschk]

The premiere of Shostakovich's 7th Symphony was relayed over loudspeakers at the siege of Leningrad, partly to demoralise the German troops encamped around the city. I'm not sure the "pppp" bits would have been audible at that range, though :)

[@TheEulerID]

The graduation ceremonies at my old college were held in the Albert Hall, which is just behind the place. Also, the college orchestra would also play the 1812 overture every year at the base of Queen's Tower, which was on campus and has a peal of bells. They even fired a little cannon. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXPIq2ubqJaijrs

[@ftumschk]

I was at UCL, and I was always a wee bit envious of my mates at Imperial having their graduations at the RAH :)

[@JenMaxon]

Many European cathedrals took years to build - they're big! The one in Liverpool took 74 years and was finished in 1978 - the last major cathedral in Europe to be built, at least in the traditional style. I believe the Sagrada Familia (Barcelona) has taken over twice as long and is not finished yet! It's a Proms concert - that's why they're standing.

[@grahamstrong995]

I remember reading about this... the quieter musical passages are to show that most of Russia is in a dream-like state with the French music 'waking it and spurring it into action.

[@JBuddis]

Fun thing about the Nutcracker ballet, Tchaikovsky was not a big fan of that one either. It was something he did for a commission and considered the subjet matter to be childish and without depth - a silly, facile story for which he just wrote some music. He felt that both of his earlier ballets, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, were much more worthy of artistic consideration and largely dismissed The Nutcracker as not worth the comparison. But then again, he was always very self-critical of his own work so that may also be part of it.

[@davidsavage6910]

Me on the smoke machine. My assistant of the evening , Danny, begging me to use it, so I decided to go next door for a beer in the pub and left the machine in the capable hands of Danny who had never used one before, after giving him a 30 second chat. Thirst satisfied I return to the theatre to find smoke rolling through the foyer. I go into the auditorium to find it full of smoke and the audience coughing. On the very edge of the stage my friend Chris bravely singing on. The song? Somewhere in the Night (Chris waving smoke away.) Audience now in fits of laughter. On the cans, "Savage! where is SAVAGE?"

[@martinsinfield42]

I am sure Howard Goodall is going to include a segment on Tchaikovsky as he is a very popular composer and wrote some superb works. He is my favourite composer by far. I love the way he will throw a melody around the orchestra to be played by various instruments in different ways. He was a master of that. I am looking forward to your reaction. I was also fascinated by your explanation of the pyrotechnics. If you ever come to the UK, you should come to Plymouth in the SW in August. There is a 2 day firework competition where 3 different companies compete each night for the best display in a 15 minute segment each. Great fun, you could probably help set them up, haha. Incidentally, the Japanese do some very innovative and unusual displays that are worth checking out.

[@tonywilkinson6895]

I love the ending.who on earth doesn’t.💪🏼

[@toiletsauce_]

Moscow's population in 1812 was around 270.000, while today it stands at between 12-15 million, depending on how you count. It is the largest city in Europe.

[@richardwills-woodward5340]

The Moscow administrative area is the largest in Europe - the urbanised area is the second largest in Europe (after London's metropolitan area). Moscow's Oblast holds 21 million. London's equivalent - 23 million. In land area it is vast, again, second only to London.

[@MarkVrem]

Istanbul is up there also with over 15million... It is the old Constantinople... let's not pretend it's not part of Europe just cause of a name change. Just messing with the last sentence, hopefully no one gets ruffled lol

[@toiletsauce_]

@@richardwills-woodward5340 Well I was talking about city proper ;). If we are nitpicking, Istanbul has an even larger population, but it is not entirely in Europe

[@radziwill7193]

At that time, the population of France was equal to that of Russia, about 20 million.

[@MarkVrem]

@@radziwill7193 Just for kicks and giggles, the USA has 5-million in 1800. .. Kingdom of Great Britain 10.5mil. Kingdom of Spain 10.5.... China 300million.

[@shanenolan8252]

Oh great choice love Tchaikovsky

[@michaellord9]

re the pyro you have to remember that the Windsor Castle fire still burns in recent memory and given the ever-tightening requirements of health and safety they did well to allow that amount within RAH! great reaction, as always.. che k out Katchachurian's Spartacus, very similar, but more beautiful

[@pompmag]

An interesting but less well-known piece in the same vein is Wellington's Victory by Beethoven, which he wrote in 1815 for the Austrian celebrations of the victory of Wellington's Anglo-Dutch-Austrian-German army over Napoleon at Waterloo.

[@ftumschk]

It was written and premièred in 1813 to mark Wellington's winning the Battle of Vitoria (Spain), where the defeated French army was led by Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte.

[@joebloggs396]

I think Beethoven dismissed that and the audience that liked it. But it was very popular back then, though not played now.

[@alexpug5162]

How about making a reaction to the history of Russia from the epic history channel, after watching a series of videos about Napoleon?

[@SoGal_YT]

Great suggestion!

[@joebloggs396]

That's brilliant, the first 4 parts lead nicely to the Revolution. But for the Revolution Oversimplified's two parts have more detail.

[@Mocsk]

@@joebloggs396 the problem with oversimplified is that it's oversimplified to the point that it's just completely incorrect

[@TheTrueAltoClef]

There's also a performance in Japan that used real canons and was uploaded to youtube in 2 parts. Even though the quality isn't perfect, it's still definitely okay and the audience having the life scared out of them with the first canonfire is an added bonus

[@BlameThande]

The concept of duelling national anthems to represent a war is so simple and yet brilliant. I always wondered why the 1812 Overture was so well known in the US when, as you say, it has nothing to do with it, but the Carnegie Hall thing makes sense. But then, Dvorak's "From the New World Symphony" IS about the US, yet to modern British people now evokes old-time Yorkshire thanks to it being used in the Hovis bread adverts...

[@martincook9795]

Wembley Stadium was built in the 1920’s, nothing to do with Albert.

[@arkadybron1994]

I visited Tchaikovsky's house in Kleen in 1995. It was a 2 hour train ride from Moscom. He wasn't home.

[@hywelw]

Yep - they're all standing in the centre of the Albert hall. It's the Proms concerts as the people in the front promenade rather than sit in seats. That's how it got its name of the Proms! If you're standing you get in for les than $10 to see a concert that would cost you many times more anywhere else. Sponsored by the BBC and mostly broadcasted live on Radio 3 and BBC television too .

[@Vampirewolfking]

Fun fact: During Soviet times the piece was often played with the "God save the Tsar" part replaced with something else.

[@misha17]

Many years ago before the USSR collapsed, the Hollywood Bowl presented a concert featuring an orchestra from the Soviet Union. The 1812 Overture was the finale of the program, and the University of Southern California's famous Marching Band was brought in to perform the "God Save the Tsar" portion of the piece.

[@nikolaasp2968]

There is a mistake at 5:07 Tchaikovsky actually didn't like the idea. Tchaikovsky deeply disliked the Tsar and the project for the cathedral, so he was incredibly annoyed when he received the commission for the score. He initially wanted to refuse the request, stating to his publisher "Neither in the jubilee of the high-ranking person (who has always been fairly antipathetic to me), nor in the Cathedral, which again I don't like at all, is there anything that could stir my inspiration". In the end Tchaikovsky accepted despite his loathive because it was a lucrative offer, but he did the job without passion.

[@musicandbooklover-p2o]

An extra edit for those interested. The organist Jonathan Scott has transcribed this piece for the Pipe Organ and can be found on KZbin playing this, complete with bells and canon added on at the end by his brother. If you like this piece of music then the organ version is definitely well worth looking for and listening to.

[@rnman99]

From what I understand, the soviets had a major problem with this piece due to the bit at 24:44 where the old Russian anthem "God Save the Tsar" comes in

[@pauldavidmurray6531]

This is part of the Classical Spectacular concert in the Royal Albert Hall.

[@marcuswardle3180]

Not forgetting the ‘Mushrooms’! LOL!

[@jameskoralewski1006]

The first CD I ever bought was the 1812 Overture made by Telarc classical music record label with digitally recorded cannons and digitally recorded muskets. It comes with a written warning not to have your amplifier turned too high when playing this CD because the cannons will be played with such power that it may blow out your speakers. Everyone recognizes the last 4 minutes of the piece because they play it at almost every 4th of July fireworks presentation in the United States. You almost never the first 11 minutes of the song. The total piece is a little over 15 minutes long but they only play about the last 4 minutes with the cannons and loud music. Have you ever noticed that quite a few cartoons have used classical music as their music. Listen to the first part of the William Tell Overture, a 12 minute piece if you listen to the whole thing (The last part of this piece was the therme song to the Lone Ranger TV show). At the 6:10 minute point you will hear a part often used in the Bugs Bunny cartoons.

[@giggling_boatswain]

Tchaikovsky did not give a literary program for the overture, but the images of the play are so specific that they do not need clarification. In the big introduction to the sonata allegro, three themes are successively covered: the prayer for the granting of victory "Save, O Lord, thy people" and two original themes - alarms and heroic military signals. Sonata allegro is multi-dark. In addition to the main and side parts, contrasting with each other, themes that symbolize two hostile forces were introduced into the allegro: the Russian song "At the Gate, the Gate of Fathers" and "Marseillaise". Both are of great importance in the development and reprise of the sonata form. In the solemn code, the theme of prayer sounds again in the imposing timbre of copper, after which the theme of the Russian anthem “God Save the Tsar!” Appears. In the code, Tchaikovsky depicted a vivid picture of the victory of the Russian army, using the effect of a bell chime and a cannon salute. The overture's theme is based on specific genre types. The melody of the side part is close to lyrical folk songs. The composer connected the song "At the Gate, Gate of Fathers" with the primordial spiritual resilience of Russian soldiers. In describing Russian images, Tchaikovsky successfully used folklore material, in describing the French invasion he used the theme of the Marseillaise. Despite the fact that the Marseillaise for a European is associated with purity and freedom in the overture, it sounds tense, ominous, with dissonances in the background - this is a logical decision, because the Russian nobility idolized French culture, they spoke French, repeated the manners of the French and their fashion. But now the Napoleonic army approached Moscow, and, naturally, everything "beautifully French" instantly takes on a different color, and "Marseillaise" already paints the image of the enemy, characterizes the invasion, which brings additional drama to the structure of the whole. The 1812 Overture is a spectacular piece. The patriotic idea gives it a heroic character, and the dignified ending affirms it.

[@umbranoir2502]

15:36 Me trying to dance to techno music when the beat drops.

[@shanenolan8252]

He started his career working from the imperial family he thought music and dance to the princesses

[@zaftra]

Looks like it's part of the proms, that's were the peasants stand in front of the orchestra, on the last night they wave flags and have a jolly good time of it. Look for 'last night of the proms', especially 'rule britania'

[@daveturner6006]

When I was a small boy (sixty years ago) there was a radio program every Saturday and Sunday morning call 'Junior Choice' on BBC Radio. I remember that at the end of the Sunday show they always used to play the end bit of the 1812...the bit with all the canons! You might like to look at vids for 'The Last Night of the Proms'. You might find some material there to make a couple of vids from.

[@johnbath616]

been waiting for this absolute favourite

[@graemehossack7401]

Yes, it was the French national anthem played on the French Horns.

[@andrewclayton4181]

I bought this for my mother's birthday when I was quite young, but it wasn't her favourite piece and she was slightly sniffy. It was too martial for her, she preferred things like the Pathetique symphony. I dug it out and played it a few times as I quite enjoyed it. The music had been explained to us in a music lesson in school. Another piece I find quite exciting to listen to is the music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel It was written for George II, to celebrate the end of the war of Austrian Succession (1749) It didn't go without a hich either as the fireworks set fire to one of the viewing stands. It's a stirring piece though. Back to Tchaikovsky, he wrote quite a few ballets, being Russian they were popular. Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, as well as symphonies.

[@12hairyjohn]

The Marseillaise is played three times in the overture, each louder than the one before. To me, the first time symbolizes Napoleon crossing the Niemen at Tilsit, and entering Russian territory. The second the crossing of the Dnieper, and the capture of Smolensk, the obstacles before Moscow. The third, the battle of Borodino, and the capture of Moscow. God Save the Tsar symbolizes the Russian victory in 1812, and perhaps also Alexander I watching his troops marching through Paris in 1813.

[@aromanlegionnair5096]

1814*

[@TacticalSandals]

If you are looking for an amazing film with spectacular music I HIGHLY recommend Samsara, not a single spoken word in the film but it tells one hell of a story.

[@marignanofils866]

Beethoven also wrote a piece to celebrate victory over Napoleon - "Wellington's Victory" (not Waterloo but Vittoria 1813 in Spain) also with cannon fire and musketry. Tchaikowsky may have disiked his 1812, but he should have been grateful he didn't compose Beethoven's piece..an absolute stinker! ...and not surprisingly, one his most popular at the time. Both pieces suffer from the same problems; the narrative requirements are difficult to reconcile with the internal logic of musical development and structure. Recognised one of my music college friends in the orchestra - thanks for showing!

[@SuperBenkoo]

You should listen to this albun I have of this composition... Thats a real treat. A very good recording conducted by Constantin Silvestri and the Bournemouth symphony orchestra plus her royal majestys marine band, and at that recording session the guns were real and the sound is (still) fantastic. The recording was made in the beginning of the 1960:is

[@Devinn777]

Hi thanks for compiling such a comprehensive reaction to a famous piece of music. I’m not sure how progressed your orchestra knowledge is but if you care to know more, try a 3 part series from 1991 named Orchestra!, hosted by comedian/musician/actor Dudley Moore and conductor Sir Georg Solti. The channel Project New Renewal has all 3 parts, look under their ‘music’ videos playlist and you’ll see all 3 parts listed there. Hooroo! (Australian slang for goodbye)

[@marcuswardle3180]

The Royal Albert Hall when built was abysmal for concerts. It’s design made it very echoey. It was resolved by installing ‘mushrooms’ in the ceiling. You can see them bathed in a blue light when the camera gives a general view of the auditorium.

[@allenwilliams1306]

Indeed. I think Sir Thomas Beecham said that a composer could listen to two performances of his new work if it was performed at the RAH, because of the famous echo.

[@paulqueripel3493]

And the festival hall was designed to be the opposite. People complained it was too dead acoustically. Even the seats were designed to have the same sound absorbing properties of a human body, so it sounded the same empty,full or anywhere in-between.