Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra / Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker

[Ekehart]

I'm kinda surprised, there's not a single woman in the wind section.

[3001st]

The final fugue - allegro molto - Op. 34 (1946). Every instrument must play its part. A powerful message about diversity and unity. E pluribus unum.

[412goldenboy]

luv it!

[xswooshx]

Heard this for first time on Google Symphony series, at about he 1 hour mark. Really, this 2 minutes was one of the only captivating things of the entire finale performance (note: I was listening, not watching).

[555paint]

I heard Rattle conduct this with CBSO em must been in the ind 1980s on tour in SF. Anyways this is a good version but of all the one's posted here I gotta give the winner to MTT and LPO

[555paint]

did karajan ever record this??

[ClassicHolic]

oh that poor trumpet player on the left at 2:35 looking at his colleagues wishing he could have played the last note... i'm sad for him

[David0794]

@ClassicHolic it's a poor percussionist ;-)

[drbortz]

@ClassicHolic No need to be sad, that's the snare drum player. All is well.

[MikeDirnt93]

@ClassicHolic he´s actually playing the snare, you can see that at 1:32

[eisayama96]

Did anyone else notice that ALL the winds are males... no women whatsoever LOL

just saying...

[MaxxUS08]

I think the timpani player was a hair late there at the very end, the snare drummer noticed. lol!

[amistrymister]

Who's on first oboe here?

[MD051]

@amistrymister

Jonathan Kelly 

[amistrymister]

@MD051 thanks!

[amistrymister]

@MD051 thanks!

[sk81212]

Phenomenal



[robertbrianperkins]

I first heard this as a kid from an album my father bought for me and I have never forgotten it. It brings me pure JOY and I cry everytime. I know every nuance, note, trill, and delight in it with every listen. If you'll indulge me and listen with true interest, it sounds like a fox hunt...that's my interpretation, anyway. Enjoy...I'm sure you will.

[robertbrianperkins]

I first heard this as a kid from an album my father bought for me and I have never forgotten it. It brings me pure JOY and I cry everytime. I know every nuance, note, trill, and delight in it with every listen. If you'll indulge me and listen with true interest, it sounds like a fox hunt...that's my interpretation, anyway. Enjoy...I'm sure you will.

[avakrob]

Such a pity the Berliner never play anything by Aram Khachaturian....

[SirSebastianWang]

It emerges from nothing; a piercing, childish piccolo tune. As flute and oboes join in it becomes something more, and the bassoon and clarinet add more tension. The strings bring in a certain joy to the music. The beautiful tension rises as the brass join in this piece. The moment Purcell's melody triumphantly returns is one of the most outstanding moments in all of music, before the dramatic and perfect chord to end the piece.

[tmenator]

Benjamin Britten was commissioned to write a piece for an educational film about the symphony orchestra. What the producers got was a spectacular concerto for orchestra that brutally exposes all the sections of the orchestra in turn. It is difficult to play but when done well will leave you absolutely gobsmacked.

[gnukev]

This is such an incredible composition.

[sspipg]

Espectacular Simon Rattle.



[dylbobtboner]

this is a great fugue!

[jmm1233]

Wait for it , Wait for it - There  Epic Win

[cb77305]

Always an electrifying moment when Purcell's theme, now in a major key, comes up out of the crash of the gong. Wish the percussionists were shown at that time.

[cb77305]

Always an electrifying moment when Purcell's theme, now in a major key, comes up out of the crash of the gong.

[wassollsauch]

haha, as the final brass chorale enters, sir Simon looks like "what a pitty to have to organize all this stuff right in front of me"... i totally agree, one of the greatest climaxes in music, i think. like watching others eating your birthday cake :-)

[madad0406]

Guy next to Trumpet 1 at the final chord.

"I wanna be apart of this last epic chord. :'( "

[youngergermanpope]

@madad0406 Yeah,, i'd like to be part of that final chord too. That's Franz Schnidlbeck, Principal Percussion of BPO. Amazing player!

[David0794]

@youngergermanpope schnidlbeck, lol^^ schindlbeck sounds better :-)

[physphilmusic]

@matthewgoodi5 LOL

[happywandy457]

Happywandy457,  this marvelous masterpiece has a tremendous speed up effect upon conductors: They seem to gain strength towards the end in such a way that they cannot find a proper tempo-limit at the fugue´s start, in order to achieve a propper "maestoso" when Purcells main theme arrives. I know,

there is an overwhelming strength required to control this, but it is worth while

to try it !

H. Fröhlich

a "maestoso" at the Tutti of the main Theme

[physphilmusic]

@matthewgoodi5 The question is, are you a Berlin Philharmonic musician? I think it's a matter of tradition and climate (the habits of the people around you), how much an orchestral musician moves around. American orchestras tend to be much stiffer. But one thing that I love in the Berlin Philharmonic is that each member seems to have far less inhibitions to freely move and express themselves. If you've actually played amazing music like this moving around isn't weird at all; it's almost natural!

[blechmusik]

@matthewgoodi5: You are no musician I suppose. Even in american orchestras you can see people moving (at least the ones that are still alive).....

[molinmusic]

I LOVE THIS PIECE AND this performance!!

[Deutschbassist]

Did the BPO ever record this?

[BerlinPhil]

@Deutschbassist Good question! Surprisingly, they never did.

[schnozz87]

@BerlinPhil Perhaps someday?

[Perrinouche]

J'adore ! ' Love it !

I've heard this piece last year (2009) in a festival called "Un Violon sur le Sable" at Royan - France.

[Altatrinitabeata]

Liebe Philharmoniker, Ihr habt jetzt das attraktive Finale aus dem Britten-Werk auf YT gestellt und bietet das ganze Werk zum Kauf auf Eurer homepage an.

Da würde mich interessieren, wie Euer Angebot sich verkauft d.h., ob Ihr zufrieden mit dem Umsatz seid ?

[BerlinPhil]

@Altatrinitabeata Wir haben seit dem Start der Digital Concert Hall vor gut einem Jahr über 16.000 Tickets verkauft, darunter einige tausend Abos. Das ist schon sehr ordentlich für so ein innovatives Angebot, an das man die Menschen ja erst heranführen muss.

[wskfan]

@BerlinPhil Im November (?) 2008 gab es eine fantastische Aufführung der As-Dur-Messe von Franz Schubert mit dem Windsbacher Knabenchor. Leider wurde sie wohl nicht aufgezeichnet oder irre ich mich ? Interessenten gäbe es sicherlich genug !

[BerlinPhil]

@wskfan Die Schubert-Messe war ja eine Aufführung des Deutschen Symphonie-Orchesters Berlin. Am liebsten würden wir natürlich sämtliche Konzerte in der Philharmonie aufzeichnen - bis auf Weiteres werden wir uns aber auf die Auftritte der Berliner Philharmoniker beschränken.

[norathorr]

Wow that string section is so damned good! Its the first time I have heard the string line clearly and crisply when the brass is playing. Damn I love this orchestra!

[qwe07]

At 2:35 the trumpet player on the left makes a weird face at the others! I wonder why?!

[qwe07]

On re-watching, it's actually a percussionist on the left. But still a weird look at the trumpeters!

[twombly5]

@qwe07 This isnt a trumpet player but a percussionist.

[trr321321]

@qwe07 Smiling at them is a "weird face"? Why?

[qwe07]

@trr321321 To me it looked like a smirk of some kind. Why would you automatically assume that I saw it as a smile? If I saw it as a smile do you honestly think I would say it was weird?

[nel90]

@qwe07 Haha. If you hear properly, the cymbals and timpani didn't really come in together. There's like a 0.25 second lag. haha.

[anythingcrap]

@qwe07 he's the snare drummer -_-

[ariastoteles]

Bravo!

They always excellent!

[Kuzya3k]

Damn.

[Segis84]

Favourite part: the spot at 1:40 - that's where he shows why he really wrote the piece (he actually knew how to do it :D).

[kotetsu131]

the horn entrance at the end recapitulating the theme sends chills down my spine!!! Absolutely fantastic work ladies and gentlemen!

[PhilPhilUSA]

What exciting music!

[Bramborail]

!!! Beautiful ! :)

[NiniClarineta]

FANTASTIC!!!!!

That part when the main theme comes back simultaneously with the fugue is nothing less than amazing...!!!!

[Ignaviolaes]

Just amazing...

[sstuddert]

Excellent.

[Kwanelauda]

I like this part based on Purcell work!

[TheVrajr]

Such virtuosity! Such power and precision.! They always amaze!

[mdchiesi]

Wow! What a tight performance. Seems to me that they were rhythmically perfect! Very difficult but very magical when it works right. Thanks berlin phil for posting!

[alyssacroacia]

I love the Berlin Phil! :D

[anzdf]

Bellisimo.

[brensten32]

how come no one's young? lol but great anyways!!!

[classicalisdabest]

I love this piece! One of Britten's greatest masterpieces! And Britten is one of my favourite composers ever! Yet another amazing performance from the Berliner Philharoniker!

[RAMIRO3]

We played that in my orchestra :D

[yuehchopin]

Simon ist cool

[EdwardWhelanPiano]

Yes! You selected the best bit!

[gwaur]

Were there many young people in the audience? ;)

[BerlinPhil]

Many who are young by heart!

[Marlene55M]

Being young at heart is what counts anyway. I know a bunch of "young" people who are not, and a lot of "old" folks who are. :-)

[SDCmorg]

and feel even younger than before listening to this music. :oD

[ThaSchwab]

This is "technically" called "Variations on a Theme by Henry Purcell," so it doesn't have to be played just for a young audience.

It's great music anyways.

[atomicmrpelly]

Sir Simon Rattle... is my idol! His control on the podium is just remarkable!

Glad to see he's programming British music out there too :P.

Keep up the great work Berlin!