Stokowski Conducts Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Festival Overture (1/2)

[TheErinBanerin]

I played this in an orchestra my sophomore year of high school. Nostalgia. Three years later it just starts playing in my head in a college class and I can't get enough. It stays with you forever.

[hannahanderson100]

Playing this with my College orchestra :D

[121UniversalCritic]

@hannahanderson100 I'm playing it to, what are you playing it on?

[hannahanderson100]

@121UniversalCritic The viola

[MrBiohazard876]

This made me love music again.

[Pema108]

Amazing. This is music. How can anything else have a claim? All other music is for clubs and elevators, this is for the mind.

[47barolo]

As good as it gets. I never tire of hearing this piece. Ironic that RK professed to be an atheist when one of his greatest masterpieces is about Easter. God does have a sense of humor.

[colorsofa]

@47barolo it doesn't have to be about religion, he never said that he didn't appreciate cultural tradition. i'm an atheist but i grew up with russian easter and this music doesn't have a lot to do with religion in my opinion, i don't see the humor

[666NedFlanders]

@47barolo I shall inform you and destroy your humor then. It is not about Easter. The subtext of the original is "Overture on Liturgical Themes" and is dedicated several composers. It is common for composers to take music they find in the culture around or near them and re-purpose it. For example, Mozart's twinkle twinkle little star, is based off another piece of music. It is fairly common to re-purpose work in art, especially music and can easily have no connection to the author's faith.

[ComposeLikeABoss]

Pentatonic Scale > Sex

[DrunkenLink132]

this piece pwns.

[nosekta1234]

most epic song ever. No need for dislike button.

[crazycellist973]

I played this the summer before my freshman year in high school at a summer music academy (LSM) and it has stuck with me ever since!

[albeharal]

We don't here enought of Rimski: he has such a splendid music!

Alberto

[lukeallyn]

I don't know how I got here but as a man of hip-hop and rap this AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

[mochixsasuke]

Our city's youth symphony, is going to be performing this in the coming November. Although I may be a violinist; I'm still excited!

[Awesomewill117]

I played cello for this!

[xxPatheticEmoxx]

I played First trombone for this, one of my best experiences in orchestra!

[halstarkey]

I bought this on lp many years ago and I love it. It's been issued on CD and is worth having a copy of. Stoky's edition of this score adds such livlieness that other performances seem pale in comparison to me. I doubt the composer would approve of the changes though. I especially like the dynamics Stoky adds to the piece.

BTW, thanks, Sinfoniette, for the photo of Rimsky-Korsakoff and his student, the young Igor Stravinsky.

[bluedanube100]

It is absolutely majestic!

[NewXXRevolution]

This is one of my absolute favourite pieces! I'm playing it for the third time (first time unabridged) with the orchestra I play with outside of school. I'm so extremely excited as it is such an emotional and conjuring piece for me. One of the best versions I have heard.

[frog22ful]

absolutley beautiful played a abridge version in orchestra and its gorgeous

[windstorm1000]

A awe inspiring, haunting, spiritual work. In spite of the name it really should have been called the Russian Pagan/Easter Festival Overture--RK based as much of the feeling of the composition on Slavic pagan spirituality as he did on Easter--the return of life, the old gods, spring and so forth. He says so in his autobiography.

[inuyome1008]

My high school orchestra and band tried to do this. We had to opt out because we didn't have it ready in time for our competition. I wish I would have practiced it more :( Amazing piece, to say the least.

[luckymarisa102]

i remember playing this piece with my intermediate region orchestra. we werent all that great at it but im just happy that i discovered this beautiful piece.

[TheForeignersNetwork]

I simply adore this overture. The CSO has to be one of the best symphonies in the world, and this video just further proves my point.

[MsMsrockstar]

fuck..........thats all ive got to say....:O

[jguo175149]

4:50: Holy f--k

[SyrupCow28]

I'm playing this in my youth orchestra right now. I love it! I enjoy getting parts with the woodwinds then switching to having a part with the low brass a few measures later. Oh the joys of playing bassoon. :)

[Lilboythatazn]

We are playing this for my HS! This and Danzon and some other piece!! I love my orchestra! last year we played Shostakovitch's 5th symphony, 4th mvt., Egmont by Beethoven, and Slave March by Tchaikovsky! Cant wait for this year!

[counterpoint35]

I believe that the tempo changes, despite being drastic, are what make the piece as powerful as it is. I wish more conductors would follow Leopold's idea(s) of tempo and conducting in general.

p. s.- thank you Sinfoniette for the video. I always enjoy your vids of the magni opi of the Romantic era.

[ZippyFartsProduction]

Which scene in the Thief and the Cobbler was this played in?

[pacman5698]

@ZippyFartsProduction When the Thief is with the first golden ball in the war machine. Watch The Thief and the Cobbler Recobbled Cut (10/11)

[pacman5698]

THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER!!!!!

[zeMusicluver]

He wrote the prettiest string solos. :)

[lilburnmafia2001]

this is why theres a replay button

[sockmaister]

@lilburnmafia2001 do share where

[strela]

Христос воскрес

[pylgrym]

HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

[pylgrym]

hE IS RISEN, INDEED!

[beccapulooza]

I have to play the harp part for all-state orchestra, and I'm having a bit of trouble. Could someone upload a video of them playing it, or direct me somewhere that would have just the harp part playing?

[SyrupCow28]

I'm playing this in my youth orchestra. I love it. Especially the tuba/bassoon soli.

[Floydfreak]

I've played this piece in a professional orchestra, i don't believe the tempo changes are too drastic. This just sounds amazing. I enjoy Mr. Stokowski's choices.

[sir9integra9jr]

crap, I'm SO glad that Mr. Kenney didn't make us take it that fast. But it sounds cool.

[KennyFrenchHorn]

Odd as it sounds I like my marching bands version better.lol

[MilkBoyofAH]

I don't like the drastic tempo changes either.

[OMGImaViolinist]

@MilkBoyofAH

I agree..

I mean, I appreciate different interpretations and such, but there were points in this where it was a bit much. Even from the beginning..

[classicalmusic6]

I feel that although the CSO and Mr. Stokowski play the piece well, the tempo changes are too drastic at the start. I have the score in front of me. As much as I am open to interpretaion this version does not flow like others. A better version on youtube would be Ozawa and Berlin.

[PENNSY671E]

I would tend to agree with you. However, I often find musically "correct" performances somewhat boring and vastly overplayed - so I admit my "sin" in favoring the unorthodox performance - perhaps becuase it can bring out nuances that had never been heard previously.

[classicalmusic6]

Stokowski's version is not bad, it just different. I have not listened to this recording all the way through yet, so my opinion is not the best. I will admit, when I first hear a new song, I get attached to that particular one and then when I hear another, its way different to me and sometimes I dont like it...so I am still learning to understand why people do things. I dont understand the tempo changes but Stokowski was a genius, so I should just be quiet.

[PENNSY671E]

Hey.. I think we get one of his famous "Stokowskiisms" at the end. I think he nixed one or two of the final chords.. So much for unorthodox & nuance in this one.

[queenofbabes]

Nah, I don't think they are too drastic. I find this more musically rich (both solo parts and otherwise) than the Ozawa/Berlin recording on youtube, so IMO this is much better

[AlphaCrucis]

Good quality!

[Zerlock1124]

Is it just me, or does the part at 4:51 remind anyone of Nightmare Before Christmas?

Beautiful piece...I wish I could play it...

[Risenchaos9884]

The first time I'm in a symphony and were playing this. It's incredible

[lakeon34thstreet]

When I was in the High School Marching Band, this was the first song I played. I can't complement this song enough. Beautiful song.

[JacobR343]

i played this song in an orchestra i auditioned for and i played first trumpet and although this isnt a trumpet friendly piece i still love this song!!!!

[senoritafutbol]

I played this song with my high school orchestra....a different version but still...it's an awesome, beautiful and extremely moving song!!!!!!

[billyguns2]

Stokowski and the great Chicago Symphony is a match made in heaven! They must've felt liberated playing under him after Reiner!

[imusiciki]

The part at 2:22 is so overwhelmingly beautiful. Thanks for the post!