Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique"- 4th movement (1)- Leonard Bernstein

[WeTheStrange]

This music is much too painful to listen to.

[nanabexhoeft]

I have to agree with "windstorm1000". A Bernstein/von Karajan creation would be a perfect master.

[nanabexhoeft]

von Karajan's is superior, but this is pleasant, too. Contrast isn't always a bad thing. I can enjoy both masters for their varying merits. Bernstein has a lighter touch and perhaps adds more of his personality than von Karajan bothered to - or maybe I have it backwards(?). Enjoyable anyway.

[windstorm1000]

@nanabexhoeft Bernstein adds more emotionally for sure (real musical weeping)--at the expense of dragging (which he did a lot elswhwere). Karajan is blander emotionally but keeps the pulse, rhythem, and musical force of this musical tragedy flowing along more dramatically. If you put the two of them together, you'd have a perfect performance!!!! Profound music.

[PaoloCampa]

BERNSTEIN.. I love you. This is heaven on earth.

[musodavid]

The tempo of this movement has been highly criticised by the critics but taken in context of Bernsteins overall interpretation I think it works wonderfully. Yes, it is dangerously drawn out but my god, if you close your eyes and listen to the whole work you come out the other end totally drained. Agree with him or not, Bernstein takes us on a spell binding journey.

[bierbaron6666]

As far as i can consider, i would say that this interpretation of that masterpiece lies far behind the Karajan version with the Vienna philharmonics! But nevertheless it has its own qualities.

[xaviervandepoll]

Movement 1, 2 and 3 are where? :'s

[tetoviranje]

The contrasts in tempo, dynamics and expressions are absent... the climax kind of comes unprepared (and sounds less like a climax really). I guess maestro Bernstein had other things in mind... It's understood that I am not an authority on the subject, and subjectively speaking - my favorite is Karajans version

[fjgonzaf]

Versión impresionante. De tal intensidad que dificilmente podrá repetirse. Excelente Bernstein.

[tonnogrande]

The tempo works. Treat this movement like Bruckner, and the sentimentality becomes sublime.

[LJBSasha]

The big trouble with this recording is that once past the initial part, Bernstein is too inexorably stuck to ONE tempo. He doesn't allow the music to breathe and flex the way it should!!

I totally agree with NOT rushing the opening wail the way far too many conductors do - that's where he wins; however, where are the 'affretandi', the 'incalzandi', the 'ritenuti', etc.? Finally, the last bit ('andante giusto') is too slow, even mechanically so. This COULD have been a great performance.3/5

[permea]

can you post all the simphony of this edition??

thanks!!!

[Lauterstein]

Superb Bernstein...