Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" 4. Mov.

[0515stan]

I gave it a "Like" only because I could not give it a "Love." Konwitschny is a genius. After all, the final part is marked "Maestoso," NOT "presto." Hearing that part at this tempo allows me to hear stuff that I cannot hear when other conductors play it at "Presto" or "Prestissimo." And that final A Major chord -- it absolutely dissolved me! There are other videos of this movement on YouTube, and I think I'll watch them all and dislike those that play the Maestoso too fast.

[bobcinq]

I agree also. Most of the time slow tempos permit you to hear everything. Konwitschny played viola for Furtwangler. I'd listen with interest to a guy who made Furwangler's coffee.

[89quietgirl]

Now I see why John Muir moved to California.

Loved this at SF Symphony.

[windstorm1000]

the slower tempi makes the last movement almost a different work---and for the better!! Gives it a magnificence like these craggy bluffs. Good conductor.

[windstorm1000]

I agree with the below--the slower tempo brings out a completely different, more monumental quality to the music. Its almost like a different piece of work.

[mrbrianmccarthy]

What really made this interpretation special is the tempo he took for the Maestoso(07:44-end) Most conductors rush thru it,and it ends up ruining the whole movement.This conductor really made this finale a true "maestoso",and he made it work. If you think about it,the way this conducted this,it was alsmost as if the last part was a "5th mvt". (And I'm fairly sure thats exactly what Mendelssohn wanted.)I also think he wanted to capture the grandeur of the Scottish landscape "in tones".

[mrbrianmccarthy]

Best version of this I've ever heard. LOVED the slower tempo,especially for the last 3 minutes. What a difference the slower tempo made.This piece had so much more power and so much more emotion at this tempo.