Don Giovanni - Commendatore scene (Furtwängler)

[operazanotaijin]

Chuck Norris approves the masculinity of this scene.

[JuaNiToCraCk29]

Very slow, 

[beulze]

Fantastic and very different from the today version.s

The best quality of this version : it is disturbing !

yann

[AlBarathur]

No other version I have seen so far is so dramatic as this one. Thank you for uploading it was refreshing.

[ub12581]

Questa versione dell'Opera è FANTASTICA e io ho la fortuna di averlo in dvd! Cesare Siepi è il migliore Don Giovanni di tutti i tempi, seguito solo da T. Allen

[anzolettilino]

@ub12581 anch'io la penso così,Siepi è una favola.

[Phonologie]

oh my god i wish sing this part, its so powerful

[vasrach]

that is the darkest piece of music I've ever heard.

[ProfMaximo]

A bit slow, but still a great rendition!

[Zorchalate]

At what point was it too late for Don Giovanni to repent?? Would it have been too late after the last "no" when he was released by the statue and knocked to the floor??

Matt,40, Zorchalate2@yahoo.com

[MsSkuli]

non riesco a respirare!!!! la perfezione riesce a farti diventar di marmo!!

[SuperZorrolover]

@MsSkuli ha ragione, è una bellissima produzione del don giovanni, e ha un cesare siepi che per me è il miglior don giovanni di tutti i tempi.

[anzolettilino]

@MsSkuli è perfetta, ma lei esagera.

[leporello56]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.....but AMAZING at the same time!!

[anzolettilino]

the best don giovanni production ever!

[Cancrizans]

I really hate Youtubes word restrictions, I start out with a clear statement and have to edit it so badly I sound like a total moron. Makes me not want to bother. Maybe that's why Youtube is at the forefront of stupid internet comments.

[Cancrizans]

This is one of those works....As gorgeous as the last act is, I've always thought this act is should be the last, as Mozart originally intended.This version is as close to showing us why as any I have heard.Opera is a tremendously difficult discipline,made worse because such a difficult art is forced to bend to the shallowness of $ But always the true dramatic nature of the score is the casualty.This performance reveals so much about the inner dialogue of the opera as a whole, it is mindblowing.

[Commerenc]

A bit too slow... But splendid !

[throttlelever]

Beautiful tempo, contrary to contemporary performances that are often too fast.

[davidc6297]

Don Giovanni made 10 accounts and disliked this video with all those accounts! Who can hate such a beautiful and great musical piece by the Grand Mozart???!!

[paulostroff99]

Stunning performance.TY. selkaen

[OperaSamia]

The BEST from the 20th Century! Can't wait to see what follows!!!

[kulichan]

real cool. thx a bunch..

[sas147741]

I'm almost in tears, this is so beautiful....

[kuddelfranz20001]

Phänomenal  Danke

[HellasItalia4]

Cesare Siepi (1923-2010)

Il mondo ha perso uno dei piu grandi cantanti di sempre. Grazie Cesare

[Vincenzo2010an]

@HellasItalia4 quando vedo i video di siepi mi viene da piangere.

[woncho99]

My favorite Bass of all times, Cesare Siepi passed away on July 5, 2010.

Rest in Peace, Maestro Siepi. You were the greatest.

[paulostroff99]

@woncho99 -R.I.P.Cesare Siepi.One of the all time greats. We shall always remember you.

[francescaemc2]

@woncho99

Maestro Siepi was a baritone. You are correct about the greatest part:)

[woncho99]

@francescaemc2 Hmmmm nope definitely not a baritone.....

[Francesco7707]

@woncho99 basso profondo....Siepi aveva una tecnica ormai dimenticata oggi....prende note importanti il sib sotto il do di petto! ma non era assolutamente baritono! la libertà d'emissione...cosa ormai caduta in disuso oggi!

[Francesco7707]

@Francesco7707 Caruso aveva una tecnica del genere, bruscantini, taddei....

[Grayseff]

The voice of the Commendatore in this is so very good! I mean, you hear so so many amazing renditions, but in this I feel Don Pedro is just soo amazing

[Vincenzo2010an]

@Grayseff yes. this comendatore is amazing, the best with moll.

[Vincenzo2010an]

wow! the best.

[8Glumdalclitch]

[2 of 2] Having the Don try to hurt the statue is genius. I have never seen makeup that makes the statue seem inanimate or evokes the creepiness as well as this. The whole scene is infused with the supernatural. DG is totally freaked out! Thank you for posting. I now hear this mid-century rendition differently than I did.

[8Glumdalclitch]

[1 of 2] I have this production on CD (might be a different performance, however) and have always HATED Furtwaengler's tempos, not least in this scene, but now that I can see the action I like it way more! The tempo evokes the majesty of the ghost/statue and the seriousness of the proceedings! I feel that now I understand what furtwaengler was trying to do. The staging is great: I would rate it second-best after the 1990 ramey-moll-zefirelli version.

[agadigby]

absolutely timeless!

[kuglagerfeld]

the best commendatore scene ever!

[penkoviq]

absolutely correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[123must]

sono senza parole. non ho mai sentito l'eguale e di Don Giovanni non ne ho visti pochi. senza alcun dubbio il migliore e sono dl tutto d'accordo con Kuangsu ed anche con sosamuera.

grazie per il post

[idaspe]

What a DonGiovanni!!! Great voice, so deep...!!!

[bebetonguga]

Me pone la piel de gallina... Realmente es genial!!!

[Lordandmasterpa]

The last minute of this scene never fails to send shivers down my spine. This version is rather slow though. I have a recording from 1959 (so the same general era), and also with Cesare Siepi as Don Giovanni, but with Erich Leinsdorf and the Vienna Philharmonic. It's brisker.

[ElisabettaVS]

Wonderful music, only my dog goes crazy listening to this xD She barks whenever the statue sings xD

[mozartjpn137]

So do I.

[langengro]

At 1:55, when they painfully extend the grave

"Altre cure più gravi di queste",

Don Giovannis bodily movement appears to freeze with the music.

[robertanico]

Agghiacciante, bellissimo.

[sosamuera]

The best Opera Scene ever written (and, ever performed?)

[BetusAquilae]

Esta versión es la buena

[idaspe]

Cesare Siepi's voice seems like Ramey's, isn't it? :o)

[ceci1993chap]

è la migliore opera mai concepita e scritta

[plouw09]

Wow. Screenplay and music is amazing. I could really feel the gates of hell opening in the coro di diavoli part. Terrifying. Amazing.

[miguelmouta]

Good version. Also , the first one I see , dressings and scenario are historically correct. But I dont remember that Lorenzo da Ponte did put the murder trial ,on libretto ( 04:26).

[Selkaen]

Obviously it's been added by the stage director. In other versions there isn't.

[nnmakowska]

But it's ingenious - it really fits the ever-unbelieving Don Giovanni to check if the Commendatore is an actual statue or simply a hired lookalike...

[miguelmouta]

Dont you think that it steals both the rythm, and the message , Selkaen ? I mean , about changing Mozarts usual communication with symbolic objects and musical elements . Thank you for sharing this beautiful vídeo.

[Cancrizans]

@miguelmouta Well the original version ended like this, without the proceeding "renunciation" scene. . It really is a story of never learning your own faults and what the repercussions of that can be...I think that Mozart's original score was honest to his own vision of this as a profound morality piece. In the end, though it is hard to argue against leaving the ultimate movement out, it detracts a great deal from the overall feeling of the piece.

[anzolettilino]

@miguelmouta yes, but so more beautiful, because you can understend how much don giovanni evil is.

[mbubennov]

brilliant

[hanebeu]

My favorite Oper and Furtwängler!

What can I say?

5*****

[AmericanEvita]

What a wonderful production! Love it! They ought to do more Don G's like this one...Cesare Siepi was a terrific Don, one of the best...I love how he looks, even the streak of grey on his dark hair..and the Commandatore is superb...

[Muchness1980]

this gets me all the time, this and his requiem

[Cantormatis]

Siepi was SOOOOO great in this role.!

[PPchopin]

bello

[PPchopin]

good , good

[kuangsu]

una statua di bronzo o pietra che sia NON PUO' avere una voce umana , trovo il vibrato della statua del Commendatore una soluzione geniale , A DIR POCO !!!!!!!!!!! ... un CESARE SIEPI degno figlio di APOLLO ... passeranno i secoli prima di avere un DON GIOVANNI DI QUESTA LEVATURA ,,,,, GRANDISSIMO FURTWANGLER ..... GRAZIE !!!!!!! ...

[Selkaen]

Hai ragionissimo. Ora sentiamo tanto la mancanza di Siepi nelle produzioni più recenti!

I Don Giovanni di oggi poi sono troppo chiari per il mio gusto, preferivo bassi in questo ruolo piuttosto che baritoni.

[Vincenzo2010an]

@Selkaen bravo! infatti nella partitura di mozart è scritto che deve essere un basso/ batriono. e poi i bassi sono perfetti per il ruolo( specialmente siepi).

[XEA6L]

@kuangsu ha detto bene...

[francescaemc2]

@kuangsu

arigato domo, kuangsu! Hai completamente ragione!!!!

[francescaemc2]

Respond to this video... Thank you for posting this, from the bottom of my heart. Grazie mille!!!!!!

[francescaemc2]

@kuangsu

Se non c'e' Furtwangler son sono felice! Ecco! L'ho detto. Credo che Mozart sarebbe d'accordo. Non ha scritto questa musica per un direttore all'acqua di rose! Grazie infinite.

[kuangsu]

@francescaemc2 mi spiace , ma il tuo commento mi sorridere .. non merita risposta alcuna ....... va da se !?!?!?! ......

[francescaemc2]

@kuangsu

:)

[francescaemc2]

@francescaemc2

:)

[5758Wanderer]

@francescaemc2 Completamente d'accordo...i grandi come Furtwangler, Knappertsbusch, Klemperer sono e resteranno sempre unici ed inimitabili.

Oggi invece c'è Barenboim; e con questo ho proprio detto tutto...

[francescaemc2]

@5758Wanderer

Grazie Wanderer! Per caso...be, non per caso, un paio di settimane fa' sono andata a vedere il film della produzione di quest'opera, diretta da Barenboim alla Scala....mi pare...il 16 Dicembre (mi ricordo solamente che mio figlio si e' fatto in mille e tre per aver biglietti.) Era molto bello...Ma anche qui non c'era paragone. Lei crede che ci siano dei grandi pianisti oggi? Chiedo perche' sembra che siamo della stessa scuola.

[mltube]

He should have tried a hammer, rather than a knife.

[Furt1909]

Este pasaje operístico y esta versión es lo más maravilloso que he escuchado en mi vida. Insuperable.

[bassovalbisentino]

il commendatore non mi piace il suo vibrato.....siepi mitico

[78timothy]

Tempi and interpretion are perfect. It does not sound "Wagnerian" at all.. It sounds Thick, Dark, Serious and in part Sinister, and Don Giovanni is about to pay for his licentiousness at the hands of the Commendatore, and the Demons from Hell.

[MarkBernes]

Does anybody have lyrics of this scene? I absolutely need it! Please! Help me!!

[EdMcF1]

Put " Don Giovanni Libretto" into Google and it wont take long.

[FabioPBarbieri]

Cesare Siepi was a superb actor in a wholly operatic mode - standing still or measuring the stage, but always in the service of the character. He has got Don Giovanni exactly right - the way he is continuously nerving himself up, forcing himself to do something he knows is insane, just because "a torto di viltate tacciato mai saro'" - he does not want to be called a coward. And that is how the Statue ensnares him. This is the best Don, as a piece of acting, I have seen so far.

[FabioPBarbieri]

And notice how often his hands go up to his neck - it is as if he is feeling the noose tightening there.

[deja2048]

furtwangler is a touch too wagnerian but

the acting and direction is truer to the

psychology of the finale. its not so literalistic, much truer to don gionvanni's

worst nightmare: facing his own evil.

also a voice and delivery worthy of the

great antihero. not overshadowed by

the commendatore. after all its really

about the don's anguish. four stars.

[OperaGirlK]

Contrary to some posters, I think this tempo gives the arpeggios (my favorite part) the perfect timing they need to rise and fall. This seems to me to be well done, But I seriously doubt it would be done this way today. Siepi is the ultimate Giovanni.

[donboia]

I just love this version of the Don Giovanni's Commendatore scene. Both singers are awesome, and the timing followed by the director is just perfect to create the feeling of... "fear/affraid/suspense" to the public. Just perfect. Bravo!

[popmalevoo]

i hear it again and again

i still think it should be at least 10 BPM faster. probably 20

[popmalevoo]

wow

is this too slow or what?

[Rattywotin]

not at all - this is the speed it should be at , listen to the sustaining of the voices , I think Mozart would have approved!!

[mymusicdiscovery]

Is this on a DVD?

[kandutery]

yes. from Deutsche Grammophon

[drcajus]

The greatest conductor that ever lived.

[Abebe345]

This is the most foreboding version I have heard.

[nclysander]

Siepi, despite being the wrong voice type for this role, is magnificent (NO!). Dernster is decidedly not. The staging is brilliant, the best I've seen of this scene so far.

[rumbidzai]

Great performance by the singers, but it's just beyond me why they played things so slowly back then. The dramatic effect of the scales going up and down is completely lost and the momentum required to experience an Andante as "walking" is as well. This is painfully obvious at the triplets sung by Leporello and played by strings as well as in the dotted quarter/8th note parts.

Guess they'll say something similar about how things are done now in 50 years ;)

[TedMichaelMorgan]

This was almost a gold stdandard for its day. I heard this, I think, when I was about eleven and never recovered from the impact. Seeing the film changed my life.

The Kliber production is almost like this but not quite. I do not recall the tempo. It was slower than today.

Your point is well taken. I hear what you hear when you point it out to me. You are on target about the scales. Thank you for the tutorial I appreciate it.

[Cancrizans]

However the tempo does emphasize the agony that runs through the scene.

[lingkongjin]

pulento bacán

[Varsonoviev]

Ernster had been the leading Bass in Hungary during the 20s and 30s.He spent 2 years in one of the death camps,and it did,indeed,take it's toll of his voice.Still,he was an accomplished artist,and his Hagen(Gotterdammerung) was one of the great ones.

[katield2008]

BEAUTIFUL!

[thee31337]

The Voices are so clear it almost seems real. People don't sing like this anymore, if so, hardly at all (at least from what I have heard). There is a real embodiment of the idea Mozart was seemingly looking for. Done Eerily well.

[sweetaliena]

I was thinking the same thing! The closest embodiment of this version is the Kurt Moll version.

[Ruk8mini]

DON GIOVANNI

Produktion der Salzburger Festspiele vom Sommer 1954

Dirigent: Wilhelm Furtwängler

Orchester: Wiener Philharmoniker

Chor: Wiener Staatsoper

Film-Regie: Paul Czinner

Don Giovanni (Bariton): Cesare Siepi

Il Commendatore (Bass): Deszö Ernster

Leporello, Don Giovannis Diener (Bass): Otto Edelmann

[Gerardeus]

Yes, Don Giuanni is for baritone, but Cesare Siepi was bass.

[Goethefemme]

Per my instructor at Indiana University, in Mozart's day there was no classification for bass separate from baritone. People with deep voices, both male and female, were considered laughable. I remember hearing Seipi's recordings in the 1960's and thinking he sounded like he was struggling to sing through a cardboard box over his head.

[Gerardeus]

Eso es verdad, pero lo que no comprendo es ¿a qué te refieres con que en ese tiempo las voces graves eran consideradas motivo de burla, y cómo dices tú que en las grabciones de Siepi en los años 60's sonaba su voz como si cantara forzado con una caja de cartón en la cabeza? no me lo tomes a mal, pero francamente eso último me suena demasiado absurdo.

[jakethewoz]

That is absolutely false! I sincerely hope you misunderstood what your instructor told you. Why would Mozart write so many roles for basses and baritones if they were 'laughable'? That is ridiculous.

[TS57ovr4]

@Goethefemme It's not that basses were not popular; they were were quite common in leading roles, actually. It was the baritone part that was not often significant role and was not written as "baritone", but actually as just another bass. Baritones did not come into popularity until the late Classical/ Early Romantic periods.

[Gerardeus]

Don Giovanni, sorry.

[LifeJuice90]

Don Giovanni was suited for bass in Mozarts time. Actually the famous singer of the time had mozart. Fix his music to suite his voice and he was a BASS SINGER.

[shakaama]

wow an opera with no tenors?

do baritone and bass go on tour much?

[augustviersen]

Siepi & Furtwängler, welch ein Gespann! Schade, dass der Komtur abfällt.

[supertweek89]

It's a little slow for my taste... And the Commendatore's vibrato is more like a wobble...

[natashkk]

Incredible!! What good conduction of the orchestra!! And the singers are sublime!! 5 stars!!

[shakaama]

god giovanni's siepi's voice is ridiculously good. he's like a fog horn across the water, just warning you not to come near.  it's as clear as a bell and as strong as the sun on the sahara dessert.

[bubylugo88]

I've never seen such a BEAUTIFUL Don Giovanni!!! The best I've ever seen...

[J0nyWalker]

It is slow, and perfect. The best Don Giovanni I've seen. When the chromatic scales start going up and down I really get the goosebumps. The performance is available on DVD from "Kultur," I've seen it and would recommend it too. The sound quality is better as well. Thanks for the up!

[LordJotun]

The acting in this version is superb, very intense. DonGiovanni trying to stab the statue (and how his movements follow the music) is a stroke of genius.

[Johnny1206]

Siepi and Furtwängler!!! This is absolutely a perfect match, never to be equaled.

[Gorboduc]

Anyone who complains that this is too slow really doesn't deserve to listen to it.

[radsvid]

Actually, I thought the Commendatore in this clip was particularly poor. Most of the time he didn't have real vibratto, but rather an unfocused wobble, which is taking away from the performance. I would have hazarded it was a declining, aging voice, but since Ernster is only 56 in this performance, I am somewhat at a loss.

[BaldricOutremer]

In my opinion, the slow tempo is absolutely perfect for the scene. The one moment when it could be a bit faster is when the Commendatore is urging Don Giovanni to repent.

Siepi is an incredible singer, a good actor and likely the best Don Giovanni I've ever heard.

[Antipaavi]

This strikes me! The musical interpretation is good and the singers act exceptionally well. The tempo is indeed slow, but it creates a very doomsday-like atmosphere. I wish I could only find it on VHS or DVD. Selkaen, do you know if this is acquistable somewhere? Where did you get it from?

[niallguinan]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[grubiforever]

cesare siepi! il più grande Don Giovanni mai esistito!!

[unnannonelluretra]

grande momento pieno di potenza e fierezza

[shaguree]

The most powerful scene from Don Giovanni!!!

[Phonologie]

Minute 3:04-10 is very powerfull!

[34fgsfgsdtu48w7qtaqt]

Belle voci, ma Furtwängler è troppo lento.

[simonitaly85]

gran voci, il fatto è che e troppo lento, non è una scena poi così tanto meditativa.. Comunque molto meglio rispetto a certe cagate che si trovano qui su youtube..

[Phonologie]

This is the best ! POWERFUL Bass!

[BorisGodunov]

It IS slow, but that's because Furtwangler wrings every note out of it. It's magnificent.

[claudebasel]

the tempo is perfect. like this it shows: it all goes its way. its not about "action" or "suspense". its not just a story about poor Don Giovanni. we all have our commendatore. And he will come when its time.

with this tempo we can follow. its not about "making" music. it just happens.

[nnmakowska]

Why do you call Don Giovanni "poor"? He got what he deserved and it served him right.

[marcmo2004]

The slow tempo makes it more powerfull and this enhances the magnificient voices of Siepi and Deszo. Despite the two same tone of voice (bass), this is a great performance led by Furthwangler.

[bassoprof]

Commendotare is a bit slow. Siepi is great. I wish Kurt Moll and Siepi could have done this scene.

[cleanears]

Siepi was the last GREAT "don"...

[catwoman483]

I think it's too slow.

[Selkaen]

I kinda agree after all, I like a faster tempo.

[junodavid]

Disagree. It is so much more menacing slow. Listening to this I find the faster pace rushed.

[wotan20]

I like it this way, something almost like a Wagnerian drama. Reminds me the Flying Dutchman in its dark, sweeping emotions.

[olga2809]

I agree... and everything is played with so much vibrato!

[mltube]

This DVD is a must!

[Selkaen]

Sorry, I wrote it as I saw it written. Thank you for correcting.

[canafinwe]

Ernster's name is "Dezső" not "Deszö".

He was a great Hungarian bass.

[Selkaen]

I still wish there were a video of the 1956 performance, I like Gottlob Frick as the Commendatore. Ah, well...

[hologramlink108]

The best version I heard so far, they're both perfect!