Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie / Bychkov · Berliner Philharmoniker

[@nelsonutella]

Thumbs up if you get the chills every single time you listen to this. I do!

[@lymanmj]

👍💙

[@TheTromboneChannel]

There is literally no other recording where you hear the trombones this well.

[@matthewk4245]

Completely agree, and that Contrabass Trombone really helped blast that 6-note motive at 0:16. I'm still trying to figure out who's playing the Contrabass though....

[@srr10]

@@matthewk4245 Stefan Schulz- a true master of the bass/contrabass trombone, who plays every note of every piece as if his life depended on it. Try to watch his performance of the incredible bass trombone part in the Miraculous Mandarin...

[@christiangeller1414]

​@@matthewk4245Should be Prof. Stephan Schulz.

[@davidalderson4980]

Try BRSO/Solti.

[@droidean]

I can not get enough of this. Best orchestra in the world! Bravo. Especially to the brass! That is one blow of a piece.

[@lymanmj]

I agree. BPO is just *killing* *it* lately.

[@lordofstars9796]

Liebe Berliner, bitte - bitte macht von diesem Konzert eine DVD!!! Die verkauft sich von allein! Das Beste was ich je gehört habe - und es muss viel passieren, dass noch etwas besseres kommt... Grüße aus der Blechbläserfraktion

[@srr10]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again. This is probably the greatest 3 minutes of orchestral playing ever recorded. Now that the Digital Concert Hall is producing occasional DVDs of great performances from the archives, PLEASE, Berliner Philharmoniker- make this performance into a DVD. It will become an instant classic, and a treasure to anyone fortunate enough to own it. I joined the DCH just so I could watch this concert.....

[@lymanmj]

Totally amazing performance here. I must hear BPO perform this live before I am back to stardust.

[@ciupenhauer]

everyone is allowed to have their own definition of what is great, and some may disagree, but this is easily up there with the most EPIC an orchestra can be made to sound.

[@AncientOfDays]

Bychkov deserves a lot more recognition. Great conductor and musician.

[@fabricefortin8230]

He has it from those who hear really !

[@Archimusik]

Wow! Bychkov is an absolute beast of a conductor - inspiring to watch and listen to.

[@hornkix]

Baborak is a GOD !!! the sound of brass is FANTASTIC . AMAZING !!!

[@lymanmj]

Few people other than horn players realize how far out on a virtual limb all the horns are going with this immense volume in the upper range of the instrument. I hear no missed or out-of-tune notes. Truly spectacular. Their sound just *soars* and lifts the emotional impact of this excerpt to stratospheric heights.

[@MusicInvestigation]

2:16 literally made me cry today. I have just had one of the most miserable days. And the beauty of the music brought tears to me eyes. :') Thank you Strauss, thank you Berlin, thank you Bychkov, thank you God.

[@TheButteredmoose]

THAT HORN SECTION!!!!!

[@blackie8083]

Crazy horns,lol!

[@theureaudmartial4917]

@@blackie8083 Bass trombone too! lol

[@Infidelio]

Baborak!!!

[@toreg.nyhammer6328]

@@Infidelio He is a real good player!

[@lymanmj]

They didn't back off for fear of missing a note at that incredible volume, did they? And, it is *in* *tune* ! Amazing.

[@velocirapture89]

I still remember the first time I actually listened to this piece in full. I was driving through a particularly desolate part of Utah listening to a CD recording of this when, suddenly, the most heavenly horn playing filled my ears. Incredible! Also reminds me of the time I listened to Mahler Symphony 3 all the way through. I fell asleep at the 5th mvt, only to be awoken by the sweetest melodies. The 6th mvt of Mahler 3 is something to behold.

[@donaldspaulding6973]

Some of the best brass playing I've heard in a long time.

[@lymanmj]

*Monumental* horn playing here!

[@MD-md4th]

Those horns at 1:08 and 1:32 melt my heart! This whole "Auf dem Gipfel" section does. I don't care what the experts say, Eine Alpensinfonie is a masterpiece.

[@gorankatic40000bc]

Matt D It is a masterpiece, it helps us reach ecstasy and conveys us in romantic and idealistic sphere that wants to transcend physical bounds and at the very end, when the music stops and we are transcended - we return to our physicality and for a few moments more remember the honey sweetness of our god called Music. The physicality at the end wins because we cannot escape it, without it there is no us, no music... But after that magical moment of ecstasy our outlook on physical world has changed, our way of looking at it is different. One who drinks sweet nectar of Music cannot be the same any more. And that is why this music is called Music.

[@gucker07]

+Matt D you mean 'experts'. self important pricks who could never ever do what strauss did.

[@ric55]

It is-and they simply aren't experts. The scoring is superb by any standards. I am proud to say that I have clocked-up 52 years of listening, playing, and score-studying of most of Strauss' works. And I still have much to learn. What a genius!

[@georgelocke9523]

Matt D : My wife and I once had dinner with s gentleman who had many decades of orchestral playing under his belt. My wife asked him to name the toughest work to play. His quick response: “Anything by Strauss!”

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

@@georgelocke9523 Strauss is unbelievably challenging. Rosenkavalier is absolutely beastly - that beautiful music that results is the result of the enormous exertion and effort of 100 orchestral musicians, let alone the ridiculously high demands he puts on the interpretative abilities of the singers.

[@henrygingercat]

I don't think anything gets much better than this.

[@ciupenhauer]

certainly not life...

[@11Prawny]

Maestro Bychkov is consistently in synch with music, he is able to adhere to the structure of the piece, yet bring its immense beauty out of the same time. High class performance!!

[@syphlar]

This is what orchestral playing is all about. Fantastic!

[@wallshootout5616]

Eine unglaublich intensive Klangpracht!Tausendfach Danke dafür!!Das ist wirklich ein echter Richard Strauß!!Einzigartige musikalische Architektur der Alpen!!

[@christiangeller1414]

Strauss 😉

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

This is by far the best performance I've ever heard of this sublime score....

[@ciupenhauer]

I wouldn't even be listening to this if it weren't for Bychkov, everything else didn't do it for me

[@Trommealvar]

Berliner + Bychkov is probably the best combination possible for this piece, it sounds amazing!

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

This and Berliner + Karajan too.

[@KlingsorAMontvert]

OK. It's time to confess that I have been coming back to this video at least once a week for a year now. The piece has been a dear companion in my life and it's so uplifting to see and hear it performed with your, BPhil's, inimitable fusion of absolute quality and absolute passion. Love from Switzerland.

[@lymanmj]

Any synesthesia folks out here? As I listen to this except, the visual images I get of summiting the Jungfrau, then taking off in a wingsuit into the valley below are incredibly vivid. Just a terrific performance.

[@srr10]

This has to be one of the greatest 3 minutes in the entire symphonic literature....And what trombones! What horns! What trompets! What an orchestra......

[@ebenasire]

I have listened to most Strauss pieces most of my life (75 years) but have NEVER heard the Alpen Symphonie before! What a marvelous introduction! Thank you...!

[@MusicInvestigation]

Probably the most amazing thing I've ever heard. It's a wonder the stage didn't collapse under the weight of the pure epicness of it all. What wonders Berlin can make!

[@natelawson3816]

I love conductors like him. They are so powerful, passionate and really inspire me. What a happy and gifted individual.

[@samtorrens471]

Such a shame Bychkov didn't succeed Rattle as Music Director - They play with such fire under him. This is utterly glorious music making!

[@franziskakre8309]

I agree. Bychkov is VERY underrated. I read that Karajan wanted to have him as his successor. He is so much better than Rattle. I was live at this concert.

[@enriquerejon7208]

I love Bychkov, incredibly underrated director, his take on Glanert's Theatrum Bestiarum is awesome!

[@daliborpuchta1952]

He is a chief conductor with the Czech Philharmonic now. Too bad for Berliner, ha ha.....

[@ciupenhauer]

as far as I'm concerned he is the owner of this composition at this point. Their loss

[@Silver07Hawk]

GREATNESS!..That´s The Word to Describe What Richard Strauss REACHED Composing This Marvellous Master- Piece..This MAGNIFICENT Symphonic POEM!..VIVA This ART!..Thanks Master RICHARD!

[@unverwendeternick]

Unglaublich. Hab mir die komplette Sinfonie jetzt drei Mal angesehen. Danke für den tollen Service, Berliner Philharmoniker! Bychkov ist der Wahnsinn! Highlight bei dieser Aufnahme sind die dramatischen Passagen (Vision, Elegie, Sonnenuntergang, ...). Und die Oboe auf dem Gipfel!! Unglaublich. Bychkov fängt fast an zu weinen. Kein Wunder, allein für diese Solo würden sich die 10€ drei Mal lohnen!! Ich bin immer noch fassungslos!!

[@Budolf]

This is potentially my favourite piece of music ever written. Makes me cry every single time.

[@omysoandso]

the brass in this video, may I say, they're absolutely thrilling,I have goosebumps

[@christopherz1994]

Marvelous high note on trumpet at 2:15 played by Tamás Velenczei!!! He looks very calm! Amazing mental ability!

[@calebyoungconductor]

This video feeds my soul! I watch it weekly.... Best from Atlanta, GA USA. Berlin has the greatest orchestra in the world.

[@finnishredder]

This clip is so great.... amazing every time!!!

[@Franck88]

finnishredder 7u6ujJ 64,8.s 6,?, yg7zpy

[@palmpalmpoco3534]

fantastic brass!!!!!

[@sma8282]

I almost cried listening to this very short excerpt.... thank you so much berlin phil!

[@OVERDRIVE4825]

I was brought to tears in seconds. FANTASTIC.

[@michaelremish4093]

Berlin philharmonic and the Chicago symphony by far have the two best brass sections in the world

[@beng7716]

Optimus Prime No new York philharmonic has the best brass section by far!

[@donaldspaulding6973]

Yes! They both are fantastic, BUT, the ensemble playing here in this video is something I haven't heard from either NY or CH. The crescendo into the down beats are phenomenal, along with the phrasing, musicality and power.

[@PleaseStackChairs]

starwarsjunkie7777 As narrow as it seems the Chicago symphony during the Solti era had the BEST brass section. Herseth on trumpet, dale on horn, Friedman on trombone, and Jacobs on tuba.

[@igorferreiravarela]

Rotterdam Philarmonic - great great brass section!

[@jackhoeksema919]

Checkout Pittsburgh sometime

[@putigumut6772]

I Love this piece,its because of Berliner Philharmoniker. Thanks for giving such a great Music. Soul of Searching!

[@Trompetistu]

Oh, my God...one of the best brass players! Such a lovely played...amazing! 🤗❤😘

[@martin1024]

Bychkov hat eine wunderbar fließende Art zu dirigieren. Weckt die Bewegung der Musik

[@claronebasse]

This is why the Berlin Philharmonic is GREAT! Such powerful yet never tasteless playing. Greetings from Greensboro, North Carolina!

[@lymanmj]

Playing this excerpt at this volume level, even the greatest orchestra is on "the edge". BPO pulls this off with sheer perfection!

[@bethallen4255]

Brings me to tears every time.

[@MusicInvestigation]

How is this even possible? Doesn't it look like he's about to snap his neck when he conducts the timpani hit at 1:59? It's just that amazing. From 2:18 to 2:40 is such an amazing and inspiring shot! Conductor and performers alike are in such passionate motion. I cannot stop coming back to this video!

[@43mrssimba]

Cette magnifique Symphonie des Alpes est un vrai '''Coup de coeur''. Une oeuvre de Strauss tellement agréable à écouter et qui sait plaire par son immense profondeur.C'est la Magie des sons qui émane de ce splendide orchestre.

[@Erge08]

Everything great, Strauss!, unbelievable orchestra, bychkov underrated, but.. man, THESE bass trombones!

[@dylanle8239]

Whatever they're feeding those trombone players I want some

[@johnshellythomas7695]

Dylan Le me too (I'm an amateur trombonist).

[@jappedendievel8043]

😂😂

[@cbernz]

It's Viagra

[@gabbo.freitas]

@@cbernz 😂😂😂😂

[@joshuakoppeis6146]

Sausages and beer!

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I never tire of this music. When I was 6 I used to sing it out loud while hiking in the alps. My parents thought I was mad, running up steep slopes and still having breath and the mental capacity to sing this by heart.

[@berlinphil]

@KlingsorAMontvert Thank you very much for your kind words (and your regular online visits).

[@MyVerySeriousFish]

I've played this over about 20 times in a row, and I just love it more and more every time!

[@lymanmj]

I am at about 15 listens - and going strong!

[@bigtina68]

Mein Traum war es schon immer die Alpen Sinfonie von den Berliner Philharmoniker live zu hören! Am 28 Oktober erfüllt sich mein Traum !!! Ich freue mich schon wahnsinnig darauf! Ich bin Danske Frau in Block D mit Dauergänsehaut und Tränchen in den Augen 😃😉

[@bigtina68]

Sollte :dann die Frau heißen 😅

[@rcarroll4140]

God, the Contrabass Trombone...it is the voice of God

[@paulnauman4325]

R Carroll OR THE DEVIL. depending on which end of the instrument your on😁

[@xkay-six1845]

My thinking is it’s Stefan Schulz but the cameraman never catches his face, Thomas Leyendecker is on 3rd so I’m assuming.

[@cathbadmusic8489]

Shame he's playing the part on the wrong instrument. Strauss wrote for contrabass trombone only once, in Elektra. Alpine Symphony is scored for 2 tenors 2 basses.

[@TimGBone]

LOVE the contrabass trombone in the beginning. Orgasmic.

[@Tbone_Crusader]

trombone section is wonderful,great..especiali bass and contrabass trombone,..so powerful!

[@abelardorodriguez5107]

First heard this played at the beginning of a concert by The Pet Shop Boys, for the longest time I was looking for this piece now I finally found it. So great !

[@RobertRonnesBassoon]

Bravo Contrabass trombone!!!!! You lift the whole orchestra!!!

[@ethansaltmere]

Literally the most epic moment of the piece here! Nice cut!

[@berlinphil]

It's "Auf den Gipfel" (On the Summit).

[@richarddenyer5247]

‘Auf dem Gipfel’ ist korrekt. Wo ist Dativ.

[@jachymhernych394]

@@richarddenyer5247 stimmt

[@harryslide]

This is fantastic! Good Lord, what an orchestra! Yes, the passion and understanding of the music do indeed come through. And what amazing A/V. I would so love seeing that hall. Quite a change from the October '44 recording I have of the Bruckner 8 and 9! But it, too, was amazing, for its time. And most especially the time!

[@CJSweatt]

i just can't help but to keep coming back to this video! The trombones at 0:16 are just incredible!!! I'm always amazed by just three minutes of this video. What an amazing orchestra!

[@AlbertosiUSA]

A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE. NEVER HEAR BEFORE, SPECIALLY FROM STRAUSS, LOVE IT

[@brucekuehn4031]

Over 1.3 million views - I’m so glad that so many have enjoyed this over the years!

[@jahman514]

Mad respect to the two trumpeters hitting that High C after 2:15 with no point of reference.

[@florianmaurer8728]

Therefore you can hear that the beginning isn't totally accurate. But of course, it remains high level and a very good performance.

[@lymanmj]

@@florianmaurer8728 Yes - the only flaw and it is a small one, is that early entrance by the first trumpet.

[@noirvalentin]

You just couldn´t play that any better. So amazing.

[@lymanmj]

Absolutely.

[@srr10]

YES! I beg you again, dear Berlin Philharmonic...As we have all suggested...PLEASE make this concert into a DVD....This may be the single greatest video of orchestral playing ever made....

[@bigtina68]

100 mal gesehen-100 mal Gänsehaut!! Das muß ich unbedingt mal live erleben!

[@lymanmj]

Ja!

[@Tbone_Crusader]

pure divine energy..gentleman in low brass,respect till death..you are apsolutely GREAT!!!!

[@Rumozamonien]

Literally brilliant - I saw a light shining through the music.

[@johnpugh3348]

Does not get any better than this

[@jsteuernol]

Great sounds from the brass sections!

[@tjs9]

Such a beautiful orchestra

[@MrSatyre1]

I always love the wildly different ways in which conductors hold and manipulate their magic wands...excuse me...batons.

[@froehlicherelter]

HappyWandy457, here is an example of unique contact between conductor and interpreters. I have never seen a german orchestra playing with such endeavour and energy. Of course, R. Strauss demands the outmost of musicians! Bravo Mr. Bychkov!!! Hans Fröhlich - Germany

[@Beethovenboy]

Wow, what a great recording. Kick ass brass section too!

[@andreaguarino8207]

Bychkov is such a gentle and lovely man. That's very rare in this scope

[@Tobi29493]

The Trombones have kind of a party at 0:17, I bet Stefan has never and will not ever again play that loud in an orchestra, this just an amazing sound, in quality, strength and pure blast

[@Sternman318]

Wow, that was unbelievable! The best recording I have found so far was with Karajan, and then I listened to this... whew :P

[@ИгорьДымченко-к9л]

Very complex Orchestration. Strauss is one of the Greatest Composer in history of MUSIC.

[@noermchen1]

Als Trompeter weiss man zu genau: ganz große Klasse..... Ich habe die Alpensymfonie noch nie so glänzend gehört. Musik auf höchsten Niveau. Danke(;

[@jsteuernol]

love the build up in this section

[@マッシュ-h8c]

ビシュコフの演奏は広大で深く素晴らしい響きをしている。彼とベルリンフィルの演奏したチャイコフスキー交響曲第三番第三楽章は素晴らしい名演で、何度聴いても感動します。

[@IsaacSprouls]

Bychkov is a beast

[@cedipedi]

some of the best 3 minutes on YT 😍

[@lymanmj]

Yes!

[@DDBconducts]

Incredible intensity and sincerity...... Bravo Maestro.

[@inkoansong5909]

So beautiful music. When I appreciate it, I think about the Materhorn of Swiss and Zermat.

[@xueyab14]

Congratulations to the Berliner Philharmoniker and Maestro Bychkov for reaching 800,000 views of this outstanding performance. Well deserved indeed! July 8, 2017.

[@Dunielc]

Stefan Schulz is on 4 trombone he is using (last time i spoke to him) a Thein Contrabass trombone with . tuned in F/Bb/eb :) its a handmade monster wich has a fine price of ca. 12000 euro. :) beautiful instrument with a nice bright but still dark sound :) .. more questions is always welcome ;)

[@warrenwilson4818]

Is this one of the truly magnificent French horn passages in all of classical music. That incredibly high note at 1:48 is carried off so easily, it seems.

[@lymanmj]

Radek and the rest of the horn section just *nail* this passage.

[@ertatta]

jaw droppingly awesome! someday i will have to perform this!!!

[@ИгорьДымченко-к9л]

Proud of German culture.

[@BeBe-fs7mf]

Just...AWESOME!! I play Bass Trombone and it's from an other Universe how they play.

[@theophilus5752]

Benni Bert I play Bass trombone too! It really is incredible, the way they play!

[@limeddasch382]

Benni Bert Glory to the Reichsorchester. Just kidding. You expect them to be good. I mean Karajans teachings still live on and they still reek the benefits of it.

[@longgrayline8055]

Well done! Live performance perfection.

[@Marlene55M]

ohne Worte. Hinreißend!

[@Krampasch]

This orchestra takes off like a Boing!

[@ICLAS0000]

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ Grandioso ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ Sublime¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ es una maravilla escuchar a esta Orquesta es sencillamente ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ perfecta¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@horacio480]

I love the BPO...It´s amazing!

[@Erge08]

Incredible sound!

[@christiangeller1414]

Das Gefühl, wenn man abhebt und fliegt.....

[@ThomasMcGregor]

So we now understand! Thank you Sir. Strauss!! :)

[@DavidJGillCA]

This is a badly underrated work. It's much better than many give it credit for, but the post-Rosenkavalier Strauss only gets so much respect and this last tone poem premiering 12 years after Sinfonia Domestica and on the heals of Rosenkavalier was not a daring modern work like Don JUan had been in 1888. In 1915 when it premiered Eine Alpensinfonie was a bit old fashioned, perhaps.

[@georgelocke9523]

David J Gill: I’m willing to lavish lots of respect on “Ariadne auf Naxos” and “Die Frau ohne Schatten”. Still undecided about “Arabella”, but maybe I’ll come around.

[@CrewsTheWildDawg]

Love the brass!