Shostakovich Symphony no.11 mov.4

[athenaionian]

This is so ominous it changes the defintion to a higher scarier level...I comment thee Shostakovich

[gregapage]

@athenaionian I think you mean "commend" dumbass

[grandepittore]

the assholes who have to get the first applause in...have no respect for the music

[CJBrewification]

... If using a short baton is good, surely using a stupidly short baton is even better...

[kallstrommer]

Hey, Jack Nicholson really conducted the hell out of that! Great piece.

[Unterrath68]

It is a turbulent finale, after all. Very urgently done. But I agree that fingering that toothpick is like been boycotting somehow what he is actually doing. Veeery anticlimactic. For a very menacing finale, incredibly played and interpreted, please have a look at an account of the South Korean Orchestra live in Osaka,2007. It is unvelievable! check it up under SuperTheseus

[Tiramisumandeln]

who is the conductor??

[schlockading]

@Tiramisumandeln It looks like Valery Gergiev.

[KrillLiberator]

I respect your view, even though I don't agree with it in the slightest, having studied much of Shostakovich and found that the available evidence points me toward the orthodox view of DS as being an outstanding artist who played a very difficult and dangerous game in order to stay on the good side of the authorities (and that didn't always work) whilst satisfying himself artistically.

And, of course, DS's own words regarding his work were often laden with irony.

[Denomoses]

@KrillLiberator Not trying to be offensive but if you read up on Shostakovich you'll see that his 5th was written, in 1937, to conform to the authorities so as to regain his popularity after he had been denounced in 1936. His 10th symphony, written directly after the death of Stalin, is the F*** you to Stalin you would be describing.

[KrillLiberator]

@Denomoses Yes, totally fair comment. I'll go with that.

Poor description on my part; perhaps what I meant to say was that I've always felt the 5th to be a rather begrudging "sorry for that wrong you said I perpetrated" delivered through gritted teeth. Hence I took my interpretation a step further, referring to the way that sometimes when we deliver a false apology we are using it as an alternative for throwing stuff around and shouting at the antagonist.

[Denomoses]

@KrillLiberator fair enough

[hamthemanster]

@redword2007

I'd present myself as an outstanding communist too if my life would be taken from me if I didn't. He was anti-Stalin.

[hamthemanster]

Its like Shostakovich is saying: "You've killed our spirits, you've ruined us but we will see you tyrants in hell, where all bets are off."

[redword2007]

@hamthemanster

Shostakovich was an outstanding communist and an inspiration to all those who shared his revolutionary views.

[KrillLiberator]

@redword2007 and if you don't believe hamthemanster, try listening to Symphony 5 again and tell me that's not a big "F*** you" to Stalin and his NKVD heavies.

[redword2007]

@KrillLiberator

I have and it isn't.

You're entitled to your view but you must be aware that it is inconsistent with what the composer said himself and the views of his friends and musical critics such as Alexey Tolstoy.

The Cold War is over and the attempts to drive a wedge between Shostakovich and the Communist Party can be seen for what they are - vulgar propaganda.

[hamthemanster]

@redword2007 I hear you - I must admit that alot of what Volkov wrote sounds like personal propaganda - nevermind political - and the anti/pro attitude of Shostakovich is still rather enigmatic. However, In Ian McDonald's study he presents both sides of the argument - inconsistency in Testament etc. but to me the argument lead to Anti. If the new view of Shostakovich is propaganda I'd like to learn more about who's behind it and why.

[hamthemanster]

I am very interested in your argument. I know why I think the 5th is veiled resistance, but how do you see it? Why? I want to listen to it from your point of view. If the new Shostakovich is propaganda, If it is true what you are saying, I'd like to find out.

[WalterStudiosPro]

2:00 sick brass fanfare

[MusicInvestigation]

One of the most gripping symphonic finales ever.

[raemeredith]

They can't be out of high school; this is a stellar, incredible performance from such a young group of artists.

[bulinho05]

That conductor is a beast. He's inside the song, and it pulls me inside it too. Amazing song

[EDGJZConglomerate]

My explanation for the toothpick: it allows for the precision of a baton yet the sculpting freedom of hands alone.

[manuFUNKture]

Anyone know who the conductor is? I need to more about someone who conducts with a toothpick!!!

[rreemmzzrruullee]

@manuFUNKture valery gergiev. best conductor on earth

[back2steel2]

wow ! that conductor proves that size is not important .....his baton might be small but his performance is outstanding lol !

[BLACKSTARS69]

WOW. THE CONDUCTOR IS A MAD MAN ! ! ! EPIC IS RIGHT !

[infidel94]

wow the conductor was so into it I believe he was sweating so hard all the time

[2swiftfox2]

wow.. that was epic :P holy eff

[violiner9391]

has anyone noticed how little his baton is????

[mikepure988]

@violiner9391 its a toothpick

[LLJtbone]

@violiner9391 It's all in the stick!

[euch27]

Where is this?

[EDGJZConglomerate]

@euch27 The Barbican, where the LSO performs.

[Elmothefuzzle]

heaviest ending to a piece ever

[EDGJZConglomerate]

@Elmothefuzzle I love this movement so much! A fabulous ending to a remarkable work.

[jackeizer]

I'm from Rotterdam,the Netherlands.We had a whole gergiev year in our town.

I wasnt into classical music at that time.aaaawwhggg I can pull out my hair by now having the same left as he has.

[marcusbeliz]

Is it just me, or do the violinist creep everyone else out too? It's so scary how they all move together at the same time. Just. Creeps me out.

[MHSroyalbone]

I guess the toothpick is just another way to make the performers watch better..lol

[BritinIsrael]

Heard this live in the early 1970s with Arvid Yansons (father of...)  conducting the Halle Orchestra in Manchester UK

[gtrnumber1]

Simply beautiful. Nothing else to say.

[EDGJZConglomerate]

Love this piece. I like Gergiev, but he took this a little fast, as he does with a lot of things.

[PYROKID60]

Umm is that a tooth-pick?

[euch27]

@PYROKID60 yeah lol, and that's funny because that's the second time I saw a conductor conduct with a toothpick...

[bivmvideo]

Shostakovitch the sublime genius!

[EDGJZConglomerate]

@bivmvideo

That is exactly the word I use to describe him. Sublime.

[TXMUSICMANONE]

What an outstanding selection of music that takes your inner soul on a solo searching ride, through so many emotional confrontations. I performed this work in the Houston Symphony under Stokowski, a Houston first.. What a performance under the maestro ! TXMUSICMANONE

[FANDANGALUS]

Absoluely blows me away every time I hear this. Pure genius. A big fan of Russian works in general. Got this free with a magazine and was a worthy introduction to Shostakovich.

[Choen444]

what is with the tooth pick?

[cuboy01]

great piece over 60 minutes long, bass trombone part is great

[AreY0uExperienced]

man Valery Gergiev is an amazing conductor but he needs to do something about his appearance. he looks like a caveman with a tuxedo on.

[SCnightlife]

this was the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra of 2004. I was in the percussion section, if u look hard enough ^^ We did asked about the toothpick, his answer was: what I use does not matter!

[Wahpinga]

"WHY SO SERIOUS?!?!?!?!"

[MolotovKid2]

The toothpick made me smile like an idiot. Whatever, the song is genius.

[orchdork607]

Whoaaa. Epic toothpick conducting!

Haha I actually liked the conductor though. Cool stuff!

[AJMWriter]

I absolutely love how "into it" the conductor is...I mean, check out that jump at 2:50--how cool is that?? =) And the chimes player is like, "Yeah baby!" This is what music is all about...passion and emotion. Oustanding!!

[adrumos94]

hahahahahahaaaa cool!

[gregapage]

Gergiev is an excellent conductor. I saw him at the BBC Proms this year conducting Shosty's 8th. It was an awesome performance!

[RANDOMNAMEISRANDOMQQ]

Everyone looks so young... and it sounds awesome.

[chrisman737]

He always uses that little baton or toothpick. Don`t know why, but man, is he a great conductor!

[maulee2008]

what's wrong with a toothpick? You can use a fork, or a broomstick too, hehehe!

[adamlovestrombone]

you know, so that he can pick his dinner out of his teeth.

[Inlistd]

rofl toothpick

[maulee2008]

One of my most fav symphonies: No. 11, I also love No. 7, 10, 12 and 14.

[mgsmgs2]

Berliner Philharmoniker and gergiev at the Philharmonie in Berlin, if i'm not mistaken

[klaaazz]

you are very mistaken, because this concert is neither in the philharmonie in berlin, nor played by berlin philharmonics. i know the timpanists and other percussionists and they're not like them. it semms like you've never been in the Philharmonie because it looks absolutely nothing like it

[karajanhk]

Pacific Music Festival Academy Orchestra

[TXMUSICMANONE]

I played with the Houston Symphony and Stokowski on the American Premier of this great work, and this conductor and orchestra are just as awesome!!

[S4sando]

A++ for BASS DRUM!!!

[mazurmusic7]

Is he conducting with a Toothpick???

[GravityWing]

yes :D :D :D

[uzshotguss]

lol comb over of doom.

his conducting bothers me.  he conducted an orchestra in a movie called the Russian Ark. it was a film that is made up of one continuous 90 minute shot. and, at the end of the film, there is an orchestra playing while people dance to it, and he's conducting it. when i saw him for the first time i thought, what is he doing?! lol

[akiyaakira]

It's maybe one of the PMF Orchestra's performance. Every year "Pacific Music Festival" holds at Sapporo city in Japan.

Some years ago i'v participated in this educational festival as an auditor, and i'v listened lots of concert there. it were excellent all those performances and this maestro loved from inhabitants of Sapporo. Also from orchestra players, of course.

[schazabyt]

WOOW DIRIJE CON UN PALILLO DE DIENTES

[Pheonixeye88]

Gergiev's combover of doom will get you

[imsleepyanddead]

so will his twiddling toothpick wand of death. avada kedavra!

[steven4570]

ya ya..... chill

[FungoBoy]

lol this is one of the funnist comments i've seen

[chrisman737]

Really, I must agree with the person who said this is one of the funniest comments I have ever seen. Priceless, actually! "jay z could batter shosta whatever his name is anyday" Hilarious!

[altonoir]

well Jay-Z is a master of the NYC street vernacular and Shostakovitch was the master modern of the modern Russian Orchestral tradition...I love them equally!...

[HomicidalDwarf]

Shostakovich had (in his later days) the power of the party behind him. Stalin would probably kill jay-z.

[altonoir]

Shostakovitch hated Stalin and had no choice but to be acquiescent to Stalin's every whim...Stalin had a lot of his dearest friend's killed and he was without work for 10 years because of him...

[altonoir]

Jay-z painted verbally descriptive pictures of the harshnesses of NYC street life while Dimitri musically rendered the treachery of Stalinist Russia...

[FungoBoy]

problem is nyc probably like few ppl die every week, while millions of people were killed during shosta's time. also, shosta is world renowned, publicly accepted as one of the greatest composers ever. i doubt people'll even know who jay-z is in 100 years.

I enjoy hip-hop too, but to say that jay-z can "batter" shosty anyday, is kinda...retarded

[altonoir]

two totally different musical aesthetics so to say who is better is a bit difficult. They both were equally prolific in their fields and I more than sure that Jay-z will be remembered just as long as Dimitri. I wanna see Jay-z write a full length symphony and imagine if Dimitri were alive trying to battle cats in the hood. hahaha...they are both awesome at what they do! peace out...alto

[altonoir]

shoot ma grandma could batter Shosta whoeva and come off cool...lol...i am just being silly now...

[shavkatikk]

snare drum is perfect

[ArturoAlejandroS]

I think he was the most conservative composer after Von Dohnayi and Sibelius in XX century after Rachmaninov death's.

Fantastic music.

[wizardofwaste]

Indeed, and frightening is exactly (IMO) the way the finale of the 11th should be played, even if it does (as posted below) get a bit "sloppy". It's truly one of the most exciting endings to a symphony I've ever heard particularly when, as in this case, the bells are right one. Thanks for the great video.

[brutusbassoon]

I saw Cincinnati do this last winter (I don't remember who was conducting, but I know it wasn't Jarvi) but the percussion had rented out church bells and were using five pound hammers on them. so obviously the bells were really loud but it was very powerful.

the most emotionally powerful movement for me though, is 2. It strikes me more because of the tragic human element that is so vivid (especially when the snare starts its cadence a little past halfway through). it chills me every time.

[trombonethjameth]

I have seen Maestro Gergiev perform this piece live with his Kirov group...and it is more stunning than anything I've ever seen.  He's a great musician, although frightening at times!

[megabazus35]

I think Gergiev is an amazing conductor and this version of the 11th is really good. The energy is fantasic, but with many Gergiev performance, this means he sacrifices a bit of control and things get a bit sloppy.

[lelia72]

Way too fast!!! good orchestra though!! This movement is a rush to play onstage!

[snowbnny986]

who is this performing group? great performance

[nolanryan999]

by their age and quality, I'm guessing that it is the Chicago Civic.

[nolanryan999]

ahh... its the Pacific Music Festival. I recognize some of the musicians!

[nolanryan999]

ahh... it is Pacific Music Festival. I recognize some of the musicians!

[BrucknerFan]

Valery Gergiev is the man! I highly recommend his Shostokovich recordings with the Kirov Orchestra.

[dunctonhoney]

this is my favourite shostakovich symphony, along with 8 and 5. I like the first movement the best - you don't get music like that again

[VonRichter]

RE ductonhoney:

Love Shosty all around, but I'm going to go with the 10th which I consider the single greatest piece of the entire 1900's along with the Rite Of Spring.

[MastaHanky]

Hey, the bell player got every note right! Seems to me that half the recordings I've heard of this work has at least one note played at the incorrect time.

Also, hello to the redhead @ 2:26. :)

[Biglover29]

This was great, now I want to hear the whole thing. Got to love the "mad conductor look" :-)

[hootenhtn]

Would you believe The Boston Symphony Orchestra has NEVER played the 11th, nor has it ever been performed in Symphony Hall. The work is tailor made for that hall!!!

[sagalat]

Am breathless....trying to re-compose. Sensational! Isn't this the symphony they played in the Maximilliam Schell film "Condemned Of Altona"? Shosta grows on you over so many years of lunacy and sorrow. By the way, Gergiev conducts with a Picadente de roble, a gift he received during a visit to Rio Caqueta, Zona Selvatica de Guaviare. Pable Escobar sponsored many concerts of Russian music there from 1969 - 86.

[yesthebrucedickinson]

from 2:20 onward, esp the syncopated melody in the strings at 2:32. Such an emotionally intense climax!

[OorvakanSar]

Shostakovich is a musical genius. The way he keeps his musical ideas alive and turns then into monsters, it's as though it reaches out and grabs you. Absolutely terrifying.

[Nitervol]

excellent, but nothing beats hearing this live, Carngie Hall San Fransico Orcrastra. Totaly awesome.

[jkbs123]

is he conducting wiht a toothpick?

[bighairybaby]

Gergiev never uses a baton. He's an incredible conductor though, huh?

[pocoapoco2]

I think it's one of my life's ambitions to get to hear this symphony played live (and well) at least once in my lifetime. I remember on first hearing this symphony I formed some really distinct images in my head as the music played. Well, I didn't learn what the symphony was about until sometime later and was so amazed at how my own impressions upon hearing the music was a near play by play of the text that I read about the symphony. The writing is just so emotive and so spot on in its message.

[guitarike]

amazing performance, but is gergiev conducting with a toothpick as a baton?

[matildawong]

You know who would have don't a kick-ass Shostakovich 11?--- Bernard Herrmann.

[bruckner26]

Superb guys, very well done! A professional orchestra could perhaps have matched your technical level but you display the kind of enthousiasm and passion many pros are lacking. The conductor must have enjoyed this very much!

[darandria]

haha, Ethan, you are awesome. That's me in the trumpet section also!!! I miss you all so much too! is that a toothpick? :)

[MahlerBaller94]

This is the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra from 2004...Performance in Kitara Hall in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan...That's me in the trumpet section! What a great summer, I miss you guys so much!

[ellegin88]

what orchestra is this?

[apocknight]

such an incredible piece...

I'm in awe of this performance.

[lovesGenet]

Gergiev , indeed . Is that a bowed hair .why look at the score must be a habit .

[jeffwhit]

Is this the PMF orchestra?

[kevypoodle]

excellent

[fredg77]

Awesome video of an awesome work! The smell of revolution is in the air after the 1905 Bloody Sunday Massacre in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is my favorite symphony of Shostakovich's and they show the last 4 minutes of it.....Great Orchestra too...Is that V. Gergiev conducting??