Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem - Simon Rattle, Berliner Phil

[actorshmactor]

The first time I heard this music was when I was singing it with the combined choirs at San Jose State and the San Jose Symphony back in 1971. I was on a football scholarship. It transported me for life. I changed my major to music and my life was never the same. It never fails to transport me into another world.

[TheBerto3141]

@actorshmactor Bravo for you! Great story. I admire your courageous choice.

[acrobat20]

I have the famous Klemperer recording but this one also sounds well worth getting

[rklight33]

To the subject of Rattle's belittling the atmospheric religiosity which permeates this work -- it's about as inane as, say, imagining Richard Dawkins explaining the exasperating beauty of Chartres Cathedral by putting it down to implicit, unwitting secular urges and longings of its designers. How ridiculously fatuous.

[chairrest35]

@rklight33 Isn't he merely interpreting Brahms' own comment that he wishes he'd had the nerve to call it a Human Reqiuem?

[TommyHaegin]

The work does not get any more profound by unnecessary smug talking about it.... This needs no selling, Simon.

[BerlinPhilfan94]

You've absolutely got to buy the actual recording of this work. It's an unforgettable experience listening to this great masterpiece with the world's greatest orchestra. Tommy Quasthoff is a marvel too.

If you can't listen to this without fighting tears, I have to wonder if you've ever shed any tears.

[longeaton34]

Why oh why is this not performed more often?

[saintdracula1]

wow Quasthoff's voice is very rich and clear

[kaetanaa]

My goodness, every time I hear this music there is a lump in my throat and tears in eyes. It is incredibly divine.

[beethovenboy]

OMG, this is easily one of the most beautiful pieces of art in the world! I love how Sir Simon de-emphasizes the religious aspect and instead explains it in terms of the human experience, I'm quite sure that this is part of Brahms' intentions especially given the fact he exluded the typical Dies Irae. This recording/interpretation sounds awesome, I gotta find it.

[LonEdward]

The Berlin Philharmonic is a transcendent orchestra.

[aweitzer1]

what's the movement that they start with?

[sfrenchhorn07]

@aweitzer1 Its the first movement

[Uruguruh]

Rattle makes this beautiful piece sound like Wagner; terribly sentimental devoid of real feeling.

[Kruzifan]

The Dresdner Kreuzchor will performe that work in November 14, 2010, in Dresden..::)

[CCNutella]

I have heard many versions, I have several of them, but this one is my very favorite. Strong, it moves me most!

It was also one of the hardest pieces I have ever studied to perform, as a soprano in the choir.

[billyguns2]

Excellent choral singing here; the touching soprano solo always moves me.The rest of it is not one of my favorite compositions, nor do I think it is the best of Brahms. I think the best of this composer is to be found in his songs and chamber music; he was not a convincing "heaven-stormer."

[Grandtenore]

@billyguns2 I'm glad you commented on the choral sound. I find that so many "orchestral" conductors treat the chorus almost as an after thought...even in works with large choral components. I think the deficiency is not being able to think like a singer...much like many "choral" conductors don't do a great job at nuance in orchestral pieces.

[aweitzer1]

what's the 2nd part they play?

[murraybowles]

deplorably treacly

[DieSonneSinkt]

Why can't they learn from Klemperer?

[isefire]

Donin, you misunderstand Rattle's comment. Come at it again.

[FoondCake]

The armless-tiny-guy look could be the next big thing for baritones.

[DoninWhiting]

I disgree with Simon here. His belittling of message having to do at all with eternity and

the meaning which comes out of the holy scripture purely without commentary is vain

philosophy. One cannot escape the meaning of the texts. Superb performance, despite the errant theology of a clueless but well meaning conductor.

[lobonse]

Study Brahms' own beliefs before you spew your religious vomit, you uneducated fool.

[Traz56]

While I understand your reaction to DoninWhiting - I have to ask you to study Brahms yourself: while he was cynical at times, even rude, he would not have been as intentionally hurtful and insulting as you were!

[ianmcrobbie1]

I agree with fgtuh too. Wonderful!

[fgtuh]

rattle just do walk in the pace of Karajan, to the heigts

[TheRootsie]

I completely agree!

[lmspr]

Wonderful video. The choir sounds so impressive. Thomas Quasthoff, and Dorothea Röschmann are excellent too. I wish there was a DVD of this, instead of just a CD. It's fascinating to watch clips of these rehearsals.