Karajan - Rehearsal of Schumann's 4th Symphony - Part 1

Herbert von Karajan rehearsing Schumann's 4th with the Wiener Symphoniker

[@Nadia1989]

Nobody understand why I am so obsessed with this man. I am not a musician, I have never attended proper music lessons, but for me his conducting seems out of this world. Thank you so much for uploading this.

[@jacktreeman6791]

That's because he's an egotistical dimwit, and you are some hypergamous woman who is looking for a dominating egotistical man. Even though he is a short little guy!

[@gseries2567]

Im not musican, but this man for sure have gift from God. so I understand you

[@megabugginout]

Astute observation. As a trained musician he is one of the best!

[@ionutzamfir5794]

maybe tou like the way he mixes up the mayonaise,with his,left hand

[@grahamnoble4887]

Are you a fascist, perhaps? Or maybe just Nazi-curious?

[@kamanetzki]

If anyone out there wants to understand the function of a conductor, look at this. It puts the lie to the phrase "the conductor's there just to keep the beat". His understanding of phrasing and his musicality are outstanding. You might not agree with his interpretation but if there are any young conductors viewing this clip, take careful note and learn and enjoy!

[@LeonidaMax]

He was so sensitive and powerful at the same time...! Karajan conducting = Pure Genius!!!

[@enigmaalphacentauri.6730]

flawless divinity!!!!!

[@tubaguyry3540]

Nobody touches Karajan. He stands alone, FAR above the rest.

[@atsumoritokyo1101]

He is watching it all. Do not miss.

[@mauromedina1821]

Sensitive?

[@briansilk2510]

@@tubaguyry3540ok

[@annapaolafennell3139]

Von Karajan is my Idol since I was 12years old, now I 68 and he still is

[@sutherndudetx]

Wow. It's amazing what Karajan hears in the music. Wish we could see the entire rehearsal.

[@novagerio]

You can. It's filmed by his friend Clouzot, and it's on a commercial dvd.

[@Kay0Wee]

I am studying conducting, and I have never seen anyone more inspireing than Karajan!

[@davidcallahan2832]

Michelangelo had it right when he said that trifles go to make up perfection, which is no trifle. Karajan has extraordinary spiritual insight into this music. It guides him through the musical data, like a micro-processor, flipping tiny switches on or off, so that Schumann can live and reveal his soul to us in these wonderful notes.

[@smartstumich]

It’s amazing how he emitted so much passion into his work

[@chrisvazan]

He's mesmerizing is what he is.

[@NateSassoonMusic]

I agree

[@cathfragment]

At 4:14 the passage with violins and flutes... how it changes after his explanation. He basically ask a simple thing. That the violins listen to the flute. Simple and effective.

[@Alexander-oh8ry]

And to play further up so the overtones disappear

[@classicalmusic5491]

I am really amazed!!! Seing the rehearsals you understand why he is one of the top conductors of all times!! Not just a conductor..A real musician!! And i don't understand why some people call him "bossy maestro"... He does what he has to do! Trying to make really good quality of music by working hard again and again is what every musician in this world should do.

[@edwardyang8254]

I agree. He is very "German" in his precision and attention to detail. He leaves nothing to chances, unlike more "modern" artists who just try to put "nice" things together and hope to get some good effects.

[@mjj0829]

this is truely amazing. This is what's called Charisma. And PASSION

[@OhDanny]

What this man is hearing and the effects this may cause in his brain is unbelievable...

[@Grandtenore]

Right...you look at Karajan and Furtwangler and you may be lost, but the magic in their conducting styles is that they literally physically manifested before the ensemble what the piece was to be. It's so amazing to me. I strive to do the same as a choral conductor.

[@stevenhaff3332]

Simply wonderful! I had only heard Karajan's performances not his rehearsals. Clear ideas and the ability to express them.

[@trevorcox1808]

I was a extra in Tosca in Salzburg. I was in firing squad in the general rehersal and by mistake I fired my musket off prematurely. Omg he stopped the orchestra and turned to me as smoke still curled from my gun and said " I hope they teach you about guns in England" He knew my wife was a English Ballet Dancer at Salzburg Landes Theatre and I was a full time Extra in many of his opera's . Later on at the Premier Party at the Grosse Festspeil Haus he laughed it off. RIP Meister of many years ago

[@elenapanova4809]

Wow, what a great story! Thanks for sharing and please share more!!

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

Interesting. I thought that if there is an actual firing squad on stage it is the job of the guy playing the officer to give the mark when to fire.

[@musettina6adina224]

Was this at the Easter 1988 or the summer production? with Anna Tomowa Sintow as Tosca. Was there too in the production. Those were special times.

[@mailsumansanyal]

That was so cool!

[@gyulcandle]

indeed a great story! I live just next to the Mirabell garden and always pass by the Salzburg Landes Theatre to cross the Salzach bridge!

[@lowkii712]

This is what perfection looks and sounds like

[@pine_apple179]

I really admire how he worked with the orchestra, he was someone very dedicated.

[@ljiljanastanic9076]

Phenomenal recording of rehearsal💙💙💙Every time thrilled me it great symphony and my dearest conductor💕

[@dirigentus]

Es ist fantastisch! Ich habe diese Probe viele Male gesehen und jedes Mal bewundere ich die Arbeit mit dem Orchester dieses großartigen Musikers.

[@ERSCAUS]

Master of the Orchestra in the 20th Century.

[@louisranke8]

karajan is a genie

[@enigmaalphacentauri.6730]

the blue eyed God of Harmony!!!!! thank you so much for translation of this rare archive!!! I was trying hard watch it in one piece version without subtitles!!! and i hardly got the general idea from his expressive body movement, but your translation is more than precious!!!! exciting work!!!! and very "flexιble" cut in 7 pieces!!!

[@Segis84]

He definitely knows the piece exactly by heart =) Wonderful.

[@superbanks3311]

Some comments here seems to be unaware that karajan, was a perfectionist with the recordings, so every single video recording was scripted by him, the position of the musicians, the choosing of the musicians who would appear on video, baldness and mustaches were undesirable, probably even his speech here. That being said he was still a visionary who saved classical music during post war, he is the only one responsible for the development of orchestral recording on new medias like video, television, and his work on beethoven's symphonies is simply amazing. If we had a new karajan, he would probably save, financially, today's orchestras, of course, we need new composers too, pretty much everything has been recorded, no need to do that again, we need something new and delightful.

[@davidmount2233]

Alas, a Nazi nonetheless

[@MagetoLp]

@@davidmount2233 jelly brit?

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

Nope. Nope and nope. For the upteempth time. Karajan was not a Nazi. He was not a man of principle like Furtwängler who refused to become a party member.

[@superbanks3311]

I don't remember him refusing to be a party member, i remember to have read an article on which said that karajan actually was a member of supremacy group at his university, but then i read this article:www.overgrownpath.com/2008/09/karajan-on-boulez-stockhausen-and.html , and now i dont know what the hell to think about his personal thoughts, all i know is that during that time you were kind of obliged to support the party in order to have a career. I don't think the article puts to rest all the doubts people have about karajan, if anything he believed in stereotypes, when he says that black people, like louis armstrong, have more rhythm than europeans, so i don't know.

[@Etheldreda-]

David Mount So what if he was.

[@prof.stefanhausmann6994]

Meine Mitwirkung im Orchester als Posaunist! ( mit hoher Frisur und noch schwarzen Haaren!) Mit Herbert von Karajan und den Wiener Symphonikern, Bild - Tonaufnahmen zur Produktion der 4. Symphonie von Robert Schumann (für Musikfilm - 1965), mit Regisseur Henri-Georges Clouzot, lt. internationalen Publikationen damals, als erster Musikfilm dieser Art.

[@user-jm5pj9yb1i]

Karajan: good morning Orchestra: *skeleton sounds*

[@carloszamitiz]

karajan exige limpieza ,fuerza ,brillo tal y como lo tiene en su mente , escepcional bravo maestro para siempre.

[@someone6030]

He is the epitome of conducting, like no other in the world, a class for itself.

[@iselafuentes9282]

Quien lo estará viendo en este noviembre 2020. Mi admiración por siempre maestro. Gracias por compartir 🙏

[@shaleine01]

The transcendental quality of translating an idea into music and projecting it to others through sound. Learning to hone in on this transcendental quality - it goes beyond listening

[@bauwndule]

Perfection. This man is perfection.

[@marcocresci]

One and only. Pure listening.

[@cellospot]

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much for posting this!

[@atsumoritokyo1101]

He is watching it all. Do not miss.

[@MrPoupard]

Thank you for posting. What a band and what a conductor. I didn't realise the german language could sound so beautiful. Lordy, You really have to be in a certain place to tell the leader of the Vienna Phil how to play a passage technically on the violin! The thing about GREAT conductors is that each stands like a giant on their own .... like pararell musical universes. The same passage conducted by say a Bernstein, Solti or Giulini would sound equally great but all different. Fascinating stuff.

[@Wanderer1202]

It's not Vienna Phil but Vienna Symphony, also a great orchestra. Just saying.

[@MrPoupard]

Thanks! I stand corrected!

[@trevorcox1808]

MrPoupard Band??.. Stupid

[@stepaushi]

@@trevorcox1808 You're not helping classical music much by calling MrPoupard stupid.

[@SuccessorsofWagner]

The master at work. God love him!

[@mannysternberg1034]

I was among his intern in the eighties. Touched by an angel. Forever to my group The greatest !!

[@esterbalbi4558]

genius ..he looks for the light in music!!

[@egb1967]

We watched this rehearsal religiously back in college:) I've lost my vhs of it and was thrilled to see it again on your channel!

[@UlfenDaddy]

Yes. He did it all the time, and it's not uncommon for conductors. He knew HUNDREDS of scores note for note and bar for bar, including massive works like Die Meistersinger and the Ring of the Niebelung.

[@penalista100]

perfection and majesty!

[@mannysternberg1034]

Ethereal. Heavenly voice of the angels. Heard him in Berlin when I was an intern work of god

[@savelieffarnaud3170]

This is mesmerising.

[@user-kx5wu8fg9r]

fantastic‼️

[@amineurin]

Da spürt man Hingabe ...Liebe und Perfektion! ...und man lernt viel ..manches hört man erst nachdem der Meister es erwähnt :) Vielen Dank z0tX!

[@jorgeuribeclar]

Fantastic!! reahearsal, the ideas are wonderful and the concept about sound and Schumann music is very interesting and deep, The great karajan!!

[@joanmarshall6861]

Brilliant! So involved.

[@brahms1984]

It is just beautiful and that makes the difference from one conductor to another, some1 like karajan can make the music the way it should be heard! Thank you for posting:)

[@crisvez]

thanks zOtx for this video-gift,I love karajan. it is wonderful

[@laupeter4594]

he is able to clearly and concretely the effects he wishes to achieve thus his success

[@heteronomyisthecondition]

truly amazing!

[@zamyrabyrd]

What a revelation! The kind of high polish and streamlined performances Karajan was able to get from the players was his keen listening and attention to detail.

[@mrmorganmusic]

This is a fantastic video. I'm digging this big time.

[@hertzair1186]

The Mozart of Maestros

[@germanquintero10121946]

INOLVIDABLE

[@gretareinarsson7461]

Like Karajan or not but he was one of the most fascinating artists of the 20th century who reach hights of artistry only very very few can but that came with undeniable lows as well.

[@TVRDF]

4:30 wow..

[@pinky0926]

Whatever you think about Karajan's personality or even his sound, you can't deny he was utterly commanding and overwhelmingly charismatic. I bet if he asked these guys to play "twinkle twinkle little star" they wouldn't bat an eyelid, hahaha

[@hertzair1186]

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is from a Mozart piano sonata….so it probably could be arranged by HVK

[@jamescardenas9283]

He tells it how it should be and he demands it in return

[@ATM999]

Now I understand why the Director is so important. What we can see in a theater performance is just the tip of the iceberg. All the work done before the public performance is the most important phase.

[@BehindDesign]

Ah... so classical music does not sound well by coincidence?

[@raquelflorian1179]

But, he was being coincident about how It was sounding like 🙃

[@celiachen5536]

Great Karaja !!!!!!! I'm so sorrow I can't saw him on the stage any more.....

[@bathtubbarracuda2581]

Say what you will about his musical interpretation,but you cannot deny he was an efficient director. Unlike some other conductors I won't name, he would communicate his intentions with clarity while still being very demanding concerning every single note. This is why fewer recording sessions, surprisingly, were needed (as compared to Celibidache, for instance). I guess this is also partly due to his authoritarian (and I mean that in a good sense) demeanor, which led people to just want to do what he asked them. I've seen too many conductors try to pull off the same thing and get laughed off by the orchestra.

[@paullewis2413]

It was Karajan's obsession with perfection and refinement that lead to a blandness in his final years. However, in the 50's and 60's he was amazing, a tour de force in the classical world. I can't think of a conductor today who could match him with many composers, not only the Germanic school but with Sibelius and Italian masters Verdi and Puccini.

[@OfficinaEmotiva]

der genialste Dirigent aller Zeiten ❤️

[@miau05]

Even I with not knowledge whatsoever of classical music can understand he's genius ... and that's saying something ....

[@bachelbel]

Schumann is not that bad in orchestration, his orchestration doesn't have a wide range of colors like brahms and ravel, but the strings and woodwind's harmonies are incredibly beautiful

[@TheTirtil52]

ohhhh my god . unbelivable , its amazing control , if i was playing there , definitely leave the studio !!!!

[@djdrocco]

I'm impressed. Gonna go look for that recording now.

[@TheBullshitartist]

Dude,Karajan was not a conductor,he was a teacher,a god far above a conductor.

[@jontjohnston4236]

Karajan is da man

[@RajRijhwani]

Fascinating.

[@Joe31ize]

Herbert von Karajan, wie er kongenial die Musiker instruiert diese schwere und schwermütige Sinfonie von R. Schumann zu spielen, wie fein artikuliert und präzise er aus den ausführenden Musikern das Beste herausholt immer mit feinen Verständnis für die Besonderheiten dieser Sinfonie.

[@secretameos4982]

Esse maestro é demais.

[@gunta03]

True. But what he's doing is not insisting or demanding where to play the downbeat. He's suggesting where it should be and giving the orchestra the freedom to listen to themselves as an ensemble to a achieve a good, overall musical sound.

[@TheWillyJ16]

what he says about flute/violins and harmonics is so true!

[@juancoronado289]

Absolutely amazing...

[@cadaverdog1424]

Karajan: the greatest _____

[@germanquintero10121946]

una belleza musical

[@biodanzanorterepublicadomi1600]

this is a great video, to learn and understand clasic music.

[@user-op6vy3gg2b]

Without conductor's score even for the rehearsal? I am so impressed. And at repeated requests from Karajan musicians fully cooperate. And there used to no woman player , why not?

[@DIENEKES1977]

His father was Greek and his mother was Slovene..... His great grandfather's surname was " ΚΑΡΑΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ"( in greek)......He changed it into "Karajan" when he went to Vienna........ The prefix "von" became part of the family name, after they were ennobled for their services by the king of Saxony........

[@franziskakress5263]

His ancestors came from Greece, but his father and grandfather and great-grandfather were austrians. Geórgios Ioánnes Karagiánnis already changed his name to Karajan when he was ennobled by the Elector of Saxony (no king).

[@KosmasLapatas]

@@franziskakress5263 wrong.there is a video where he explains perfectly his greek ancestry speaking in french

[@KosmasLapatas]

Like all Gods of music, Bachauer, Mitropoulos, Callas, Sgouros, Kavakos, Zappa and hundreds more

[@galnyska]

great upload, thanks!

[@mannysternberg1034]

Beyond genius!!!!

[@fernandoruizsoto3888]

Karajan The Great

[@retrovertigo369]

true maestro

[@AudiophileTubes]

Thank you for the information.

[@mpppadre]

Karajan forever

[@CaraC3xDPPxWbless]

Karajan = conducting-god, who's the best of the bests of all time. Karajan's Work always = Perfection, and now you know why, there! Oh, of course, his Vienna, Berlin philharmonic orchestras are tip-top best, and they work wonders under Karajan, PERFECT! Elaine-theRainbow

[@Varese13]

As wonderful as I think this is, he'd never get away with this sort of detailed rehearsal with most orchestras these days. It has occurred to me that this is very much a choreographed rehearsal, not an actual one, where he is permitted to raise points he would probably have to leave aside in a real situation. Most orchestras these days are collections of virtuoso players who prefer a bit more deference than he gives here. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful document of a bygone era.

[@MorganHayes_Composer.Pianist]

" It has occurred to me that this is very much a choreographed rehearsal " True. Film was very expensive in those days (this is quite high quality as well) so not scope to go for something more off- the cuff.

[@dlhuo2340]

It's a first-rate master class. How he filmed it was not our business.

[@MultiBadger32]

True. But I still think the truly outstanding orchestral performances must be meticulously prepared under the artistic leadership of the conductor. That needn't be authoritarian or humiliating for world class performers. But a compelling performance can't realistically come from a hastily concocted negotiation between the conductor and various virtuosi.

[@anandabraham1792]

Karajan sees the music in front of his closed eyes ❤

[@berndwang8934]

Er war der Zauberer des Orchesterklangs. Mit einem klaren Klangideal im Kopf wußte er auch genau, wie man es mithilfe eines Orchesters zu realisieren. Das gelingt niemandem in unserer Zeit wie Herbert von Karajan.

[@aragornthebrave]

Ja, und es ist eine grosse Schade :(

[@tudormihalache1945]

Atent la toate detaliile,extrem de perfecţionist acest Karajan. Dar şi orchestra era formată din virtuoşi după felul în care răspundea cu promtitudine. Multă muncă pentru a dezveli frumosul pentru urechi.

[@papicito1884]

2:27 he dabbed

[@michaelflute1]

An amazing conductor, he just want to make music as the music should be. He reminds me Karl Bohm!!!!

[@Gresilde]

Varese13: the intensity and discipline he imposes is very much possible with any orchestra, whether populated by "virtuosi" or not. Most orchestras need a superb technical rehearsal like this, if not always, regularly. Keep them on their toes. It's not that they can't do what he wants: it's that they haven't thought of doing it.

[@esterbalbi4558]

amazing!!

[@MScJorgePoveda]

Schuman no era "mal orquestador" , porque tenia conocimientos de sobra para no estar satisfecho (como muchos compositores) con los resultados de su primer intento.Por eso Brahms-pese a la oposicion de la viuda de Schuman- recompone la sinfonia,que es una maravilla de melodias evocadoras. Y Karajan nos da en este video una muestra mas de porque-pese a los insultos-que uno lee acerca de el-fue uno de los mejores directores de orquesta ,"enseñando" a la mejor orquesta en su momento...

[@megaodlotfajnie]

I like his voice

[@vivebourgogne]

You stopped the video at the best moment !!!