never thought i'd find a recording that i could say this about, but this leaves both of Bernstein's recordings and Solti's in the dust. 3:37-3:51 is heart-stopping, and the following entrance of the organ and the chorus is earth-shattering...then there's 5:14 to the end...to which no words could ever do justice. brilliant conducting of a brilliantly written movement
T5:14 to the end is the truly the most epic plagal cadence ever orchestrated in history, and Horenstein's forces capture everything - the titanic power of the strings, the violins screaming in their extreme register, the majestic grandeur of both the on and offstage brass proclaiming the opening theme, and all of this even still reinforced by a mighty organ, louder than I've ever heard. It is an infinite wall of indescribable sound - even better than Solti's or Bernstein's.
Rips my heart out! Horenstein and this fantastic crew gets every note on tape. Balanced tempi and dynamics. With todays technology, can someone please try to match this!!
5:52-How can that be described? IT CAN'T!!!!!! Those Isolated trumpets playing E FLAT, while the whole orchestra plays a gigantic E flat chord, with the timpanini and Bass drum smashing away: it is indescribable. This is the closest I think music has come in portraying Heaven.
@GusMahler8 hmm... as for portraying heaven, I think the Adagio from his Symphony no. 4 is less strenuously achieved heaven, more mystical even than the strum und drang of the chorus mysticus.
Sorry, I forgot to thank you for the wonderful thing you did bringing this video to us all. I was too occupied with the music and my own feelings. I bow my head!
While I would say, that the choral parts of the ending in this recording and the one by Solti are on the same level musically and emotionally wise, it's the final orchestral climax that puts Horenstein into a upper class. I especially love the sound of the high e-flat on the violins during the last few bars - the word awesome appear as an insult to the glory of this recording.
@JanaFaukner Well, how observant you are! I completely agree about hearing the 1st violin's top Eb in the final chords. What a difference to Tennestedt, Haitinck and Rattle! We are so used to hearing the great brass notes and the cymbal crashes. The true splendour of the final Eb major chords are heard in full, here. Just wondrous.
I completely agree with you; not only is this the summation of all that Mahler ever wrote, I believe it is the crowning pinnacle of all music and one of the rare glimpses straight into the divine. As great as the finale to the Second Symphony and the glorious last movement of the Third are, this caps even those. Horenstein's performance is not of this earth.
I actually think the finale of the Third Symphony is the greatest and most beautiful, but the Eighth, without a doubt, features the most powerful, most emotionally shattering ending ever written!
Mahler IS the second Beethoven. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is a song celebrating humanity, an anthem of the world, if not the entire cosmos, Mahler does it much more explicitly with his works, and rightfully so, living in such an ailing world.
Everything was so uncertain about this performance that God had to lend a helping hand to it. Its clearly heard at the endbars. It warms my heart that Jasha Horenstein and everyone involved in this fantastic performance received a 17 min applause. "God" also made sure that the whole event was recorded in brilliant stereo by the BBC, at this early stage (1959). I have heard some Mahlerrecordings and no one comes close to this Mahler 8th. Mahler smiles in his heaven.
STOP COUGHING, FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST JUST SHUT UP!
Cespinarve 6 months ago 2
Somewhere around the 4' minute mark - I couldn't see it - the tears started streaming out of my eyes. (This - from an agnostic - )
garyokee 8 months ago 2
never thought i'd find a recording that i could say this about, but this leaves both of Bernstein's recordings and Solti's in the dust. 3:37-3:51 is heart-stopping, and the following entrance of the organ and the chorus is earth-shattering...then there's 5:14 to the end...to which no words could ever do justice. brilliant conducting of a brilliantly written movement
fledgehog 9 months ago 4
nothing could ever quite leave Bernstein's recordings of this piece in the dust - but yes, this was a unique occasion, and JH was a unique conductor.
vinteui1 9 months ago
Now there's a plagal cadence for you! The finest "Amen" you'll hear.
longeaton34 1 year ago
This is WONDERFUL quality for the 1950s
EDGJZConglomerate 1 year ago
Just played the whole performance on the 9th trip around the complete works.
Stunning, awesome, finish, with complete successful control of the dynamics to the end.
uranrising 1 year ago
5:30 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen.........
tyrelroo 1 year ago 3
i hate coughers
kklocket2 1 year ago 4
Pure ecstasy. The video is also brilliant and very well fitting.
firesermon22 1 year ago
T5:14 to the end is the truly the most epic plagal cadence ever orchestrated in history, and Horenstein's forces capture everything - the titanic power of the strings, the violins screaming in their extreme register, the majestic grandeur of both the on and offstage brass proclaiming the opening theme, and all of this even still reinforced by a mighty organ, louder than I've ever heard. It is an infinite wall of indescribable sound - even better than Solti's or Bernstein's.
dga471 1 year ago 2
Rips my heart out! Horenstein and this fantastic crew gets every note on tape. Balanced tempi and dynamics. With todays technology, can someone please try to match this!!
Yngverik 1 year ago
Comment removed
firesermon22 1 year ago
This is very special. Words are insufficient to describe the feeling... You did a very good job with the pictures and the lyrics !!!
classiceye 2 years ago
Comment removed
firesermon22 2 years ago
5:52-How can that be described? IT CAN'T!!!!!! Those Isolated trumpets playing E FLAT, while the whole orchestra plays a gigantic E flat chord, with the timpanini and Bass drum smashing away: it is indescribable. This is the closest I think music has come in portraying Heaven.
GusMahler8 2 years ago 4
@GusMahler8 hmm... as for portraying heaven, I think the Adagio from his Symphony no. 4 is less strenuously achieved heaven, more mystical even than the strum und drang of the chorus mysticus.
rjr1967 1 year ago
Sorry, I forgot to thank you for the wonderful thing you did bringing this video to us all. I was too occupied with the music and my own feelings. I bow my head!
garynilsson57 2 years ago 3
While I would say, that the choral parts of the ending in this recording and the one by Solti are on the same level musically and emotionally wise, it's the final orchestral climax that puts Horenstein into a upper class. I especially love the sound of the high e-flat on the violins during the last few bars - the word awesome appear as an insult to the glory of this recording.
JanaFaukner 2 years ago 8
@JanaFaukner Well, how observant you are! I completely agree about hearing the 1st violin's top Eb in the final chords. What a difference to Tennestedt, Haitinck and Rattle! We are so used to hearing the great brass notes and the cymbal crashes. The true splendour of the final Eb major chords are heard in full, here. Just wondrous.
longeaton34 11 months ago
I love Beethoven and Ode to Joy, but from 5:15-5:56 is the greatest moment in Music. The more and more I listen, the more and more I realize this.
GusMahler8 3 years ago 9
I completely agree with you; not only is this the summation of all that Mahler ever wrote, I believe it is the crowning pinnacle of all music and one of the rare glimpses straight into the divine. As great as the finale to the Second Symphony and the glorious last movement of the Third are, this caps even those. Horenstein's performance is not of this earth.
billyguns2 3 years ago 4
I actually think the finale of the Third Symphony is the greatest and most beautiful, but the Eighth, without a doubt, features the most powerful, most emotionally shattering ending ever written!
Shota871 2 years ago
Mahler IS the second Beethoven. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is a song celebrating humanity, an anthem of the world, if not the entire cosmos, Mahler does it much more explicitly with his works, and rightfully so, living in such an ailing world.
Shota871 3 years ago
Living in such an ailing world, Mahler's music makes much more sense now.
Shota871 3 years ago
@Shota871
paulieinct 4 weeks ago
Horenstein's Mahler was the greatest of them all. His Third, Eighth and Ninth Symphony recordingshave never been surpassed.
billyguns2 3 years ago
To say nothing of his First with the LSO.
It's most unfortunate that he never had the chance to record the 6th and Das Lied von der Erde with first-rate forces in first-rate sound.
vinteui1 3 years ago
My favorite remains his legendary live recording of Symphony No. 7, from the Royal Festival Hall in 1969, it remains in a class of it's own.
obiwan88 2 years ago
"Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound. These are no longer human voices, but planets and suns revolving."
Shota871 3 years ago 5
Everything was so uncertain about this performance that God had to lend a helping hand to it. Its clearly heard at the endbars. It warms my heart that Jasha Horenstein and everyone involved in this fantastic performance received a 17 min applause. "God" also made sure that the whole event was recorded in brilliant stereo by the BBC, at this early stage (1959). I have heard some Mahlerrecordings and no one comes close to this Mahler 8th. Mahler smiles in his heaven.
garynilsson57 3 years ago 7
Bernstein's VPO video comes close. But there was only one Jascha Horenstein.
vinteui1 3 years ago
HOrenstein's version is the best version of this ending-and he is virtually unknown
GusMahler8 3 years ago