Bernstein performs Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue 2/2

[NelsonBHitchcock]

Too bad you cut it off so soon it would have been nice to witness the applause moment at the end.

[linkinlolipop]

i will give everything to be at that concert! 

[retrogamerdave]

I love that baldwin he's playing -- gotta get me one of those

[firebot4]

8:41 best part ever. period.

[daveysan]

Bernstein is wild on this and the orchestra, well, their great. what A treat. I love YouTube.

[aaronjg682]

And the best part? Bernstein looks like he's having fun.

[Graemeandarchie]

@aaronjg682 One of the greatest musicians ever, playing one of the greatest pieces of music ever, how can he not be having fun? But is he having as much fun as we are listening to it!!

[aaronjg682]

3:41 Priceless

[RangRing68]

Bernstein always did the better of Gershwin's work.

[mmbmbmbmb]

great ~  greater ~ GREATEST !!!! ☆☆☆☆☆

[Graemeandarchie]

Does anyone know is this concert available on CD or DVD? Please let me know. Thanks G

[ruizdechavez]

@Graemeandarchie You can get this DVD in Amazon looking for: Gershwin: An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue; Ives: Symphony No. 2 (2008), produced by Duche Gramophon

[Graemeandarchie]

@ruizdechavez Brilliant, thank you.

[RangRing68]

@ruizdechavez i think Graemeandarchie was requesting this particular recording with Bernstein on piano and not the Ives Symphony that you recommended. i had this on tape many years ago, and i am having a hard time finding it on dvd or cd. its Bernstein or nothing.

[ruizdechavez]

@RangRing68 this DVD has three works a) Gershwin: An American in Paris  b) Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue c) Ives: Symphony No. 2, all performed by the NY Philharmonic Orchestra and Leonard Bernstein as Director.

[Apollogranforte]

Absolutely magnificent. Such intensity...such passion...Gershwin and Bernstein: What's left after this?

[Vioxse]

I love his lack of sheets. It makes this magnificent performance all the more stunning to realize that he had the whole daggon thing memorized!

[Mon4ch0]

Orgasmic 8:40

[chinzeshen]

Y NO STANDING OVATION

[uUUu314]

@chinzeshen In all fairness I doubt I'd be able to stand after such a beautiful performance.

[profdodo1]

a whole hearted American interpreting a whole hearted American composer in his own inimitable way. Nothing jazzy or flukey just music in earnest.

[billhiltonbiz]

Sure, it's a bit slower and more lush than extant Gershwin recordings, and LB is sometimes a bit splashy - but who cares? It's such a passionate performance - the energy he puts into it is incredible.

[christophspengler]

Interesting to read some etremely arrogant comments here. It's a genius version in my opinion.

[tromuniapp]

0 dislikes- thats how it should be

[tatonkatart]

@tromuniapp there is now a single dislike (not me, i love this piece)

[TheABT2]

@tromuniapp Oh my god :( 2 dislikes :(

[AnnaBariacchis]

@TheABT2 2 out of 447 isn't much :)

[valnaples]

it just doesn't get much better...SUCH a beautiful rendition of a true American CLASSIC...thanks!

[russjoe123]

pure music and talent, where are these people now?

[Apollogranforte]

@russjoe123 I am afraid the mold from which these people were manufactured has long been lost. Perhaps one day we may find it somewhere, but I doubt it!

[slaytesics]

why the hell aren't they screaming for encore?

[crbrico]

True music, writen by a true musician and performed by a real genius of the late century. Why have we forgotten everything they thought us? Why?. What happened to our brain, ears and soul?

[kickflip110]

the first music video with no dislikes of course is the best

[MrShenanigans9]

is this piece classified as a piano concerto?

[naruto10156]

@MrShenanigans9 its more of "jazz concerto"...Gershwin did make a Piano Concerto~ Another one of my favorites.

[buffedtrainer1]

you are witnessing a GENIUS. this man is f***ing BRILLIANT. the 1950's and the 1960's were graced by his physical presence. West Side Story's overture is his greatest piece.

[taylorryh]

What venue is this?

[maribarr]

He's fabulous ! Bravo ! Bravo ! Bravo !!!

[heartcandy656]

8:41-10:01 just puts a huge smile on my face every time. He is amazing.

[KetjowTheCat]

part 6:43-7:18 is so awesome ;D

[zwanso]

makin sweet love to that piano..... this man is a hero

[veneziablau]

Just listened to an early version and now this one. This is a very bombastic version, not saying it isn't skilled...but...this is just overweight.

[jakedog52]

America's greatest conductor playing America's greatest composer....It's perfect!!!

[Baudrush]

The Andante still makes me cry again and again and again although played and listened to it perhaps about 84017427 times, ...The interpretation of Bernstein is just perfect. Let's hear it once again!

[bdienstag]

You should never march in your own parade!

[RocketRalf]

@bdienstag we're lucky this wasn't a parade! ;)

[dverbunk]

BRAVOOOOOOO...!

[danielinte]

The best version of the best piece, played by one of the greatest directors!!!

[jimmyjuicin]

bernstein should not be playing wrong notes.

[sasquatch471]

8:30-8:40 = amazing 

[999Phineas]

A-MAZ-ING.

[bg3brooks]

Is he feelin' it or what?

[EatenBySpeakers]

The unwavering theme song for New York City...

[TheFirebat58]

When was this performed?



[qwefcas]

2 GENIUSES

[mphilmurray]

This is truly divine, and I'm not even religious. A higher power was working through Gershwin when he penned this. LOVE the Bernstein rendition!

[drch1p]

Actually, Berstein's version is sorely lacking and is not the arrangement George intended it to be. If you what the definitive, restored version, as George, himself, intended and played, seek out Kevin Cole's; he is the world's best Gershwin interpreter---bar none! That's right! Google Kevin Cole and then forget the rest. No one can touch him!

[TimothyMcGaw]

Ahh Rhapsody in Blue. Undoubtedly the most epic realization of a jazz theme. Bernstein's playing here really adds to the magic as well. Those final chords just feel so right every single time. Amazing.

[yeahyeahnatnat]

I really like this version !!!!!

[FatalNeurotoxin]

I started clapping with the audience at the end of the video, and everyone around me starred at me for clapping at my computer monitor.

[Morgana888]

Mr. Bernstein renders RHAPSODY IN BLUE the best by far and honours Gershwin's name. ~ Janet Thompson Deaver

[pLUSpISTOL]

sends chills up my spine it's so good! 9:20

[eboker7]

In the 3:50 minute Henry Kissinger with a violin in the center

[jacobflaschen]

Way to keep that scale at 8:31 going all the way, principal trumpet!!! I almost always hear it taken down. I think it's even written down in the part.

[NewMaineTV]

I pooped a little from the awesomeness.

[bleger814]

@NewMaineTV a little too graphic for me. I could have used you being a bit more constipated...

[kevinrainey]

pure genius and a wonderful showman.

[Dodo251]

6:33 is way ahead of it's time by my estimation.

[sengle1013]

this is so great.

[ermerritt]

Best mix of blues with classical:)

[matrices24]

This is American music, nobody writes like this unless its for a film score, truly sad

[Dodo251]

@matrices24 You're right, this is genuine American music. Never thought about it before but you're right.

[Ragtime44Films]

@matrices24

And even then, it's not as great as something like this. Because Rhapsody in Blue was completely written just to be music. Not to be in a movie or anything.

[Ragtime44Films]

@matrices24

Well, no, what I just said isn't true I guess. Nevermind, hehe....

[Prettykendra10]

6:40-7:18 Loved it!

[wxclim8]

Favorite Gershwin piece, favorite classic of all time! Excellent!

[BadAssStudio]

I think 4:45, begins my favorite part of the entire piece.

[volltreffer82]

Thank you so much for this upload ! Just amazing !!!

[26ryder26]

by far the best live performance of this beautiful song i've ever seen, although i still love what disney did with it in fantasia :)

[agentwolf046]

watching bernstein play is like watching jimmy hendrix on the guitar, you just watch in awe and in love

[RomanJackass]

@agentwolf046 jimi not jimmy ;)

[mconnaghan]

@agentwolf046 I thought that was Hendrix on the piano. Maybe I need glasses.

[jjp009]

Wow! I always thought of Leonard Bernstein as a conductor...I had no idea that he was a pianist of this caliber. And who doesn't get the chills starting at 3:40?

[soaringvulture]

@jjp009 Yeah, Lenny had chops. And he could write, too. And he loved Rhapsody, maybe even more than Gershwin did. You can see that and hear that here; that dude is raptured!

This is a beautiful demonstration of one of the 20th Century's greatest musicians celebrating another one.

[jjp009]

@soaringvulture I love the commercial that's playing on TV lately (something stupid like a cell phone carrier or something) showing Lenny conducting and throwing his hands in the air with complete love and passion for whatever he was performing. The man was crazy for music!

[iferraro]

Such an epic song...great performance of it as well. What a composer Gershwin was!

[sbdude101]

So absolutely amazing. Leonard Bernstein.... wow.

[tropicalpancake56]

Beautiful....thank you....

[s071302]

Great Version of "Rhapsody in Blue", again.