Leonard Bernstein performs Beethoven's Ode to Joy

[wathcher12]

brothers let's stop singing this sad tune, let us sing songs of joy..freude!

[oshuabailey38j]

Your video is a favorite on Papua New Guinea

[austinguy23]

Just shut up and play the fucking song, Leonard. Thanks.

[slitor]

I can't do anything then to nod in agreement.

[muisire]

I find this utterly captivating and sublime just a few days before Christmas. Encore!

[conganhdaica1234]

warrior...

[amygrindhouse]

i am from vienna!! YESSSS ;)

[sunflower196570]

i met leonard bernstein in1971 when i played at lincolon center and played elegy for mippy one atmy senior recital in1973 when i livbed in vienna i woke up listening a100 piece orchestra and a choir bigger than than that doing this last movement of this one of the greatest pieces of music evmusic ever . it almost and almost did dull our performance with the vienna choir boys that at the hoffburg butthey were incredible

[ThePurpleHarpoon]

first guy gets his freudenvollere wrong....

erm...not good.

[ThePurpleHarpoon]

Yes..we need Beethoven...

we are very lucky people.

[SHiTJuFro743]

That entire opening essay made me horny...

[hugecashfan]

Thank you so much for uploading this.Wow he was a good looking guy Leonard and so eloquent and had such sensitivity and emotional intelligence and a big heart.May he rest peacefully with Beethoven and his family and Our Creator

[Buuuuuutch]

Apologies to all you sophisticated listeners, but I can't help but think...

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Now I have a machine gun!"

I'll grow out of it one day...

[cupwithhandles]

Lovely words describing Beethoven's music. 

[ciddler]

Ah if only we could be brothers.

[TransV1000]

Listening to this just once does more effect than U2's whole discography will ever will o_0

[lefkrys]

you feel the joy in your heart...

[giovanni1234567]

he talk to much!! Lets Beethoven talk! :D

[jessewjack]

one of the best pieces ever written. but there are other conductors who have preformed this better.

[vmcla]

@jessewjack Could you please refer us to them, if they are "better"?

[downeybill]

WOW, Bernstein is incredibly articulate and profound, for a musician to translate his feeling about music so well into language, really inspiring. Much more inspiring than the question of how much or how little he reminds you of Carl Segan, though I guess Carl Segan shared that ability to put the joy and wonder of experience and discovery into words.

[Tomasch]

Is he jewish? 

[hgjfkd12345]

@Tomasch and?

[Tomasch]

@hgjfkd12345 and what? I'm simply asking.

[multibulss6666]

song starts @ 3:36

[sunNbass]

celestial divinely

[sunNbass]

celestial

[veeerooniicaaa]

Gracias por publicar este video

[orlandorays]

When was this done? I've never thought of Placido Domingo being in Leonard Bernstein's time.

[truediabolique69]

Why hasnt anyone noticed that the tenor in this performance is none other than a very young Placido Domingo????

[lebenswasser]

@chillin002 Alex, is that you?

[bouzbou]

Horrible Soprano! UGH!

[BINGFRYSRDUN]

he looks like jamie farr, or corporal klinger. thumbs up for those who agree.

[Pippin76]

Quit blabbering over the music, Lenny.

[Mazarbul]

well said, Mr. B.

[thorhh1]

auch wen meine rechtschreibung nicht die beste ist mus ich sagen das diese syphonie die beste ergreifenste und erlichste ist die jemals gehört habe menschen dieser erde vereinigt euch dies ist warlich eine ode an die freude völker dieser erde verewinigt euch

[PerrosdelInfierno555]

The way Bernstein talks could make anything interesting. If only I had had him as a professor back in college.

[TheMlaure]

Bravo!

[Milky111wtf]

Bernstein was not only one of the greatest conductors ever to live. He was incredibly intelligent and the closest to what I'd call a "perfect speaker" I've ever seen. That is, he says super insightful things off the top of his head, perfectly worded and in an interesting manner. His speech also has a great musicality and rhythm to it. Amazing!

[samwst56]

@Milky111wtf Very well said! We NEED another Bernstein. Thanks to YouTube we have it. Hope it stays here and the government won't take it away from us.

[SireneduDesert]

The most amazing poem of ALL !!!!

[OkThxBye1]

germany ftw,nuff said.

[Beakle]

Haha really cool but strange somehow to hear that song performed by non german speakers :D

[746c]

He sounds like microsoft sam

[fadethetrade]

I love  20's music! 1820's!! LOL!

[TheSLK66]

In my darkest hour, before I die, I want to listen this symphony once again, along with the turkish march of mozart.

[paulostroff99]

Stunning! TY ernestalba  for this awesome posting

[DrTrurl]

76 Leute sind komplett taub.

[tetrisclock]

Lenny has by far the coolest, most commanding voice. What I'd give to hear him narrate other things; books, news, movie trailers, etc.

[abola2121]

76 Nazis disliked this.

[cnmaster01]

@abola2121 the nazis loved beethoven, albeit in a sick twisted way, but god they loved him.

[zwirny666]

@cnmaster01 The nazis loved beer, women, cars, holiday, good weather....and beethoven but not in a special way. listen to wagner, his music likes hitler more.

[LMB222]

our anthem!

[Cxaxakluth]

Damn... I started crying while he was talking... His intro and the music was beautiful.

[Catz007]

@Cxaxakluth

Wouldn't it be nice if you and I, possibly from different origins and living in distant places from each other, could through Art be United in Love, and Live in Freedom and Strive for Justice and Hope for Peace without the need for 'law' or 'government' or 'police' or anything?

Just to say, "brother, sister, I love you. Fellow human being, I love you. Long life to you."

Peace. I love you

[skyhigharse]

@Catz007 i love you for saying that.... brother/sister :)

[kildekin]

I like dance, R&B and indie rock n roll but this is my secret obsession.

[z3Carlos]

Even a heavy metal lover like me can enjoy this music.

[eveningtsar]

@z3Carlos

Especially a Heavy Metal lover like you - like us! Metal is more influenced by classical than any other "pop" music. Just listen to the compositions. . .

[sextusloverlord]

Am I the only one who thinks that Bernstein reminds me of Carl Sagan?

[scrotumup]

@sextusloverlord

yeah he speaks a lot like sagan, and the way he addresses the camera/audience is similar. ha good catch.

'beethoven's music will live on for mmmmbillions and mmmmbillions of years.' haha

[theendlessenigma]

@sextusloverlord you take this music pie ...... crumbly ... but good........

[Gefilta]

@sextusloverlord no I think he reminds you of Carl Sagan definately

[dyad2r1]

@sextusloverlord

Not at all. Bernstein was queer and Sagan is straight.

[archer49d]

@sextusloverlord a gay Carl Sagan.



[gregbboy619]

@sextusloverlord Is Carl Sagan jewish too ?

[RoidelSoeil122]

@sextusloverlord Cool.... then he also bake raps from scratch :D

[TheCompleteMuppet]

@RoidelSoeil122 You legend.

[0Eonomine0]

Bernstein is a great conductor, a good band doesn't need a constant beat.

[sissors66]

who is the poof in the wig?

[chocolatemusic1]

...what a conductor....very passionate....great!

[rickideemus]

COME ON!!!! You can't stop there!! Geezus %&^^$ Or as my old piano teacher used to say: "HOLY BALD HEADED MOSES!"

[ZachVMNTX1]

@rickideemus there are two other videos that encompass the entire symphony.

[ALHvideos]

not a fan am afraid, i prefer the furtwangler, celibidache, barenboim & ozawa versions, check them out on YT.

[monigra]

those 74 people are lost ........

maybe they'll find joy one day.

[TheStevenOoi]

what's stunning is that beethoven was deaf

[cicero1453]

"Quaint old lines"? I don't think so!

[sio913]

beethoven rocks, but bob speaks to more people per generation ;) Bob is the greatest!! lol Beethoven still ROCKS!!!

[pennstaterocks101]

He talks for like a full minute. just the music. not you. Leonard.

[cnmaster01]

@pennstaterocks101 you forgot that Leonard Bernstein was as prolific a lecturer as he was a conductor, if you want the music buy the set, all 9 symphonies without a word of dialogue

[uiotdsfyhk]

how could you possibly create a more beautiful piece of music than this?

[TheUlkar314x]

8:06 - for the first time in my life tears of joy filled my eyes and i never thought that people really can cry out of happiness.

[uiotdsfyhk]

i couldnt have described Beethoven's music any better. Fantastic!

[agabbahey]

What amazes me is that so many people had written Beethoven off when he finally got around to performing this Symphony. When many thought he was washed up he comes out and gives the world what is perhaps the greatest piece of music ever. Talk about shutting up your critics and going out on a high note.

[hallowedbeeddie]

@agabbahey the ultimate high note I would say. The perfect swan song

[thebigdoubleu]

I saw Ode to Joy performed live over the weekend - absolutely amazing.

[Lintflas]

Listening to Beethovens ode to joy with Friedrich Schillers outstanding lyrics makes you want to embrace the world.

This is the most beautiful piece of music ever written in human history.

[DerDickePolizist1992]

omfg love the first solist !!!!!!!

[RenCa05]

I like Beethoven because he composed amazing music like this even if he was a deaf his my inspiration in music and maybe 73 people don't know that a deaf composer = epic awesomeness

[gamebeetle]

+ Add To > Favorites.

[p0werf00L]

What amazes me the most, is how tenors/singers of classical music can pronounce every german word the way it's supposed to be, i mean the foreigners, non-german. All these people are just incredible.

[YKC005]

Very eloquent comments on the ideal of universality of joy and world brotherhood--the same words were spoken by Confucius and Schiller.

[SnoozeButton57]

Beethoven worshipped Muzio Clemente. So much so, that he kept his rare piano transcripts at bedside all his life, then ordered them to be buried in the casket with his body. Most modern music lovers have no idea how lovely the obscure Masters are compared to the popular giants. Want to know sublime gifts unknown? Search Hans Rott, for a start. The learn who Rott admired most, and you'll discover a new universe most will never even imagine.

[Flanneryschickens]

@SnoozeButton57 Yay, Clemente :)

[30secondcommercial]

@SnoozeButton57

I think its opposite. Muzio Clementi worshipped Beethoven but Beethoven was not impressed by Muzio

[fujianprince]

@30secondcommercial Beethoven used Clementi's Piano Sonatas to instruct his nephew Karl. How strange that Beethoven didn't use his own sonatas, hmmmm.

40 years earlier, Mozart sure was pissed off after his duel with Clementi for a good reason haha. :P

Do you also know which composer's piano pieces Chopin used for his students? Obvious. ;)

[fujianprince]

@SnoozeButton57 Clementi for piano, Handel for orchestra = One Happy Beethoven :)

[71lupenzo710]

@SnoozeButton57 muzio clementi

[marleyfan008]

@SnoozeButton57 Who did Hans Rott admire most my friend? I've done some searching but I can't find it.

[Percival1974]

@SnoozeButton57 Muzio Clementi with an I :D

[TMNoob3]

@SnoozeButton57

Holy Shit.

[marleyfan008]

@SnoozeButton57 Hey who did he admire most? I seached for hans rott and I love it but who did hans rott admire most? TELLLLLL MEEEE!!!!!

[Vonzaku]

@SnoozeButton57 Thank you so much for introducing me to Hans Rott.

[ZachVMNTX1]

I must watch this at least 3 times a week and this speech never gets old. I'm 15, and I can say that everything pop culture has for me just seems lame compared to This Speech and the piece.

[pearsedoran]

Yes, Bernstein put his thoughts on the 9th just as i would have , alas i am a poor person with no schooling but i can still ENJOY the music of the greatest composer ever to live. Thank you both , one without the other! , well , I am sure Beethoven would go down on his knees to thank Bernstein for keeping his 9th alive and well. Pearse Doran, Ireland.

[paulomtts]

@pearsedoran Now that' is truly saddening. I wish I had the means to help you with schooling. Nonetheless, still a proof that a critical spirit and quality can exist whithout proper training!

[mmbmbmbmb]

What a rare treasure!

An outstanding conductor,

speaking about

an outstanding composer!

My utter respect and admiration to both of them!!!

[MrJeffreystover]

Man that intro was awesome Bernstein is one cool mo fo!

[djuro20]

@MrJeffreystover unlike todays "musicians"

[Rolisaur]

shame about the tree minutes of talking b4 the song

[maegamikirisugi]

true. this is the Beethoven's magic. please come have a look the 9th synphony with a cast of 10,000(!) in Osaka Japan. most of them are amateur. they all had to memorise the German words to perform. we just love Beethoven. I want to show Bernstein 'the power of amateur'! cut and past the following words: 一万人の第九　歓喜の歌　（08年　大阪城ホール） it might freak you out or you might want to join to sing...

[0nagel0]

@maegamikirisugi hi i was laughing when i reed your message then when i saw it ..... XD

tks so much for the link its pure havean even the song qualite is sometime not perfect still a beautyfull moment

[hitide286]

Beethoven - Genius is timeless!!..his music is still going strong almost 2011!!

[deguowatao]

@liveandlearnsonicguy are you sure to understand what they're singing? i'm german and don't understand a single word when the chorus sets in... also not much of the solo voices, only a "joy" here and there ^^

[MrOttio]

Estas son el tipo de cosas que nos hace ser civilizados....y damos gracias a Dios por haber dado también estos dones a los hombres....

[MrQban94]

The mankind kneels before this Master.

[dav0209]

NOBODY can beat BEETHOVEN, when it comes to classic music!!!!

[plymouthmartini]

My girlfriend just heard me listening to this and said it wasn't her favorite "song"... "a little annoying..." I am now close to tears...

Bernstein's introduction is very touching, it's nice to hear his sentimentalism and idealism about music, and of course the symphony speaks for itself.

[Makonu2]

Is it okay if a grown man sheds a tear or two after listening to this? I don't even think the word music does it justice.

[plymouthmartini]

@Makonu2 It's ok for a grown man to shed tears whenever he feels like it.

[molinmusic]

Genius, thank you so much for posting and including important performance information and lyrics.

[Spartan038lverr]

I.....fucking....like....this.­..guy

[Daggelsche]

@Spartan038lverr

Nut!!!

[BioHunter1990]

@liveandlearnsonicguy I agree without question. I am also a German-American (4th-gen), but still grounded deep my family's noble roots. (My writing and reading are horrible, but I speak German decently) "Die Herrlichkeit Gottes in Deutschland und Amerika!"

[TokyoFreeze79]

73 Justin Bieber fans were here

[BioHunter1990]

@TokyoFreeze79 And their souls where sold to Satan.

[TokyoFreeze79]

@BioHunter1990

LMAO!

[BioHunter1990]

Ludwig Van Beethoven is in my opinion the greatest of the Classical masters. Though not the greatest composer...that is reserved for Bach...he is without a doubt in my mind the greatest composer of his generation, well above in depth and quality than Mozart or Haydn. The first way you see it is that he broke away from the basic rubric of writing a symphony. All his music was living sound...emotion through sound. And that was heavily frowned on in his time, but it gave birth to the Romantic Era.

[bassbass99able]

@BioHunter1990 Well Bach was definetly the most sophisticated technical composer but I like the sound of Schuberts lyrical works and melodies better than Bach's. In other words I believe every one of the Great composers are special in their own way.

[redmorningone]

Gänsehaut!

[JEatsbabies]

the soprano totally makes this part

[mestizolove]

I was waiting for him to say "Wecome, to the Twilight Zone"

[GermanysNextNIX]

OK, this is to much of orchestra for me. *search for David Guetta*

[Dodo251]

@GermanysNextNIX David Guetta? Are you mentally ill?

[GermanysNextNIX]

@Dodo251

What is wrong if I like David Guetta music more than orchestra? :)

[Dodo251]

@GermanysNextNIX Nothing's wrong with that but something really wrong with your taste in music if you prefer that garbage to Beethoven.

[GermanysNextNIX]

@Dodo251

Ever heard something of "difference of opinion" ?

[kanuh]

@GermanysNextNIX the hell please shot yourself in yar head <<

[codymhill]

@kanuh stupid uneducated drug dealer

[codymhill]

@GermanysNextNIX nothing but anyone who can't appreciate this type of music is an uneducated chimpanzee

[jacknumber13000]

Classic Beats any Newer Generations Music.

[youwrotethis]

His shadow is sooo awesome at 4:00 haha

[Baruchyoseph8]

Bernstein says "no composer who has ever lived who speaks to so many" - there are many who also meet that standard - start with the obvious - Bach, Mozart ... on and on ... even Bernstein's own music ... but, Bernstein had a passion for his own passion - which was a good thing - he's missed.

[obtica1]

Ode to Joy - great version...

/watch?v=9vXulvax7Hc

[Isi2O12]

The lyriic is NOT written by Goethe! It is written by the great German poet Friedrich von Schiller

[vHumboldt77]

@Isi2O12 --true, but SupRep got the message of this music and of Schiller's words, which is the really important thing here :)

[dufie123]

jizzed in my pants

[DrStrangefate]

Beethoven.....................­....'nuff said.

[Decorayahh]

as would a child of this era such as myself say : Epic !

[shampoofresser]

theres so much greatness about this that one flaw sticks out really bad: the crappy translation of the lyrics totally destroys the poem

[MrJSabadojr]

Beethoven is the greatest musician of all time!!!

[GIMMA96]

@MrJSabadojr

bullshit, metallica! xD

[PandaMishima]

@MrJSabadojr

Welllll, with the exception of Mozart....

and yes I know Salieri was Beethoven's teacher.

[Doug19752533]

@PandaMishima actually Beethoven studied very briefly with Salieri. his major teacher was Haydn

[Daggelsche]

@Doug19752533

No - Christian Gottlob Neefe!

[Doug19752533]

@Daggelsche Beethoven's initial education was with Neefe, and Beethoven did give credit to Neefe in a letter saying "...if i am ever to become a great man, you will certainly have had a hand in it." BUT the point i was making, was Beethoven studied composition with Haydn, was actually going to study with Mozart but ofcourse Mozart had died at that point. that is what i meant by his major teacher being Haydn.

[piemonte222]

@PandaMishima agree!!!

[liorbeny97]

@MrJSabadojr

you are so right!

[iguarni]

@MrJSabadojr FOR SURE!!!!!

[Zachw2007]

@MrJSabadojr I love beethoven and mozart. They make you feel alive inside your heart and mind. However, I like it better in German then English. Yes, I can't understand German but still love it anyway.

[DerDudeInShanghai]

@MrJSabadojr indeed he is!

[Blaineeer]

all hail to those great men

[richardz117]

Beethoven is God

[ApolyonTheSoulRender]

Words of genius.

[Abaris84]

It's almost like celebrating the birthday of music itself!

This guy knows how to appreciate greatness!

[suzabella68]

Beethoven was indeed a genius--it still amazes me that he could write such magnificent, complicated music while deaf! I wonder if even Mozart could have done that! And of course Bernstein was very dramatic--great maestros like he was always are! He was also a great composer, musician, and teacher. When I was young, he did Young People's Concerts on TV on Sunday afternoons, talking about the composers and music before it was played. I learned a great deal about classical music from him!!

[rajithaify]

Beethoven is the GOD!!!!

[dariogneri]

I've never seen Bernstein speaking-he was pretty damn cool

[HeilerDerWelten]

Schiller und van Beethoven....von Beethoven und Schiller....das Zweigestirn der Menschheit...die Gott neidlos als seines Gleichen akzeptieren muss. ~ Der Heiler der Welten ~