Fantastic video! I can understand why Zoltan Kocsis is a Hungarian national treasure both as pianist and conductor. Wish I could understand the interviews with him here on Youtube.
Returning to this performance, it is fascinating to compare Maestro Kocsis' work with others. Of recordings-videos this is the only one where I really get the sense that he "understands" the work. Consider where this falls in the B'ven catalogue: Op. 123 is Missa Solemnis, 125 is the Ninth Symphony. And there is a HUGE affinity with the level of counterpoint and complexity within this "trivial" Overture. In no way is this comparable to any of his theatre music...
-nor even the bulk of his (mature!) orchestral work. The level of interplay far exceeds even the 7th Sym. and only has a par in the Missa and the 9th; and perhaps the Grosse Fugue. Furthermore this is just about the only time I have ever heard the internal cadence (8:31-8:40) actually IN TUNE...
@thomasyeeDOTnet This is just my opinion, but I'd say that America's "MTV" is nothing more than a celebration of the degradation of culture and human behavior.
An utterly fascinating and EXCELLENT performance! Yes, Weihe des Hauses sadly is woefully under-performed; thank you for posting. Cna you give us performance details- the orchestra and director?
@UlfenDaddy This is the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra conducting by its general music director, Zoltán Kocsis. This was the consecration of the Hungarian National Concert Hall in 2005. After this piece there was other pieces from the three greatest Hungarian composers: Liszt, Bartók and Kodály. I uploaded also the Liszt piano concerto from this concert.
@1984robert Thanks much! Such an elegant, Crisp, clean and quick performance! The lil' concertmaster is one FINE violinist, odd bowing techniques (grip esp.) but he sure makes it work. I had no idea Hungary had such a fine ensemble; this is fully World-class, and well-deserving of an awsome new home. Very interesting choice of this piece for the dedication too-- very much tinged with Magyar rhythms and character. Bravo Maestro Kocsis and all! Thanks for posting and replying.
@UlfenDaddy Not only Hungary. a country of 10 million people, has many world class ensembles, it also produced such world class conductors as Fritz Reiner, George Szell, Antal Dorati, Sir George Solti, Istvan Kertesz, Eugene Ormandy, and plenty others, in addition to Kocsis.
@starborg9: I was taken to hear Ormandy when I was 5 years old; he is much responsible for my love of music in general and Orchstra especially. Later I had the privilege to attend conducting symposium with Dr Szell in Cleveland, and a very few sessions with Maestro Dorati in Detroit. Beethoven himself certainly highly regarded Hungarian music and musicianship! Bravos.
pyzlzh in my personal view, this overture is the best overture in the world, I have listened this piece about more than 1000 times and it keep push my mind into very active mood!!! very time I heard it I feel any problem in the life can be overcome!!!
so I fully suggest everyone can listen to it and feel the power of classic music
he said it was apporpiate for opening a new theatre because art, poetry and drama were all sacrad to him and if it was alright to play it in a sacrad place like a church then it was ok to play it in a theatre- hop i answered ur question :)
I agree, although I certainly am not an expert on Beethoven or music in general. David Zinman, an American who is chief conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zürich, ups the tempo in Beethoven's works. I have read that many contemporary conductors, like Zinman, believe that a faster tempo is more in line with Beethoven's original intentions.
I thought Maestro Kocsis did a beautiful job with one of Beethoven's most majestic works.
Lately, some conductors have gone more toward presenting Beethoven's stated metronome markings for his compositions, and more often than not, these are much faster than what have been usually presented in the past.
EmilyClassical1994 -- I don't know if you've found the answer already, but it's "appropriate" because Beethoven was commissioned compose the work in honor of the reopening of the Josephstädter Theater in Vienna in October 1822. I also really like it. A somewhat underappreciated work by the master.
he said it was apporpiate for opening a new theatre because art, poetry and drama were all sacrad to him and if it was alright to play it in a sacrad place like a church then it was ok to play it in a theatre- hop i answered ur question :)
It's just my preference, but this overture is my favorite by Beethoven. Whether it's his "best," I'll leave that determination to folks who are far more expert than I am.
I can not *believe* the camera missed the most important single part of the show --- the *bassoon solo*! But, at least you can *hear* it (2:08 to 2:32). Hmmm . . . some of this reading is a little "stiff" and "Teutonic", but, on balance, it's one of the better renderings of "Consecration of the House" that I've heard, and the tonality of this orchestra is glorious! Thanks, 1984robert!
Fantastic video! I can understand why Zoltan Kocsis is a Hungarian national treasure both as pianist and conductor. Wish I could understand the interviews with him here on Youtube.
jardinero55 1 year ago
Returning to this performance, it is fascinating to compare Maestro Kocsis' work with others. Of recordings-videos this is the only one where I really get the sense that he "understands" the work. Consider where this falls in the B'ven catalogue: Op. 123 is Missa Solemnis, 125 is the Ninth Symphony. And there is a HUGE affinity with the level of counterpoint and complexity within this "trivial" Overture. In no way is this comparable to any of his theatre music...
UlfenDaddy 1 year ago
-nor even the bulk of his (mature!) orchestral work. The level of interplay far exceeds even the 7th Sym. and only has a par in the Missa and the 9th; and perhaps the Grosse Fugue. Furthermore this is just about the only time I have ever heard the internal cadence (8:31-8:40) actually IN TUNE...
UlfenDaddy 1 year ago
My three favourite overtures are this one, tannhauser by Wagner and Herolds Zampa
khl1975 1 year ago
Lol, it has mtv on the upper right corner. Wish they put stuff like this there! :)
thomasyeeDOTnet 1 year ago
@thomasyeeDOTnet :-) I think they will not. This is the logo of Hungarian National Television. (In Hungarian it is "Magyar Televízió" - mtv)
1984robert 1 year ago
@1984robert then i know which mtv i prefere :))))
khl1975 1 year ago
@khl1975 :-)
1984robert 1 year ago
In america, mtv is music television and all they put on is pop music. It would great for them to include classical music performances there!
thomasyeeDOTnet 1 year ago
@thomasyeeDOTnet This is just my opinion, but I'd say that America's "MTV" is nothing more than a celebration of the degradation of culture and human behavior.
yohannbiimu 1 year ago
Excellent interpretation! Kocsis really nails the Handelian character of the piece.
bet034717 1 year ago
An utterly fascinating and EXCELLENT performance! Yes, Weihe des Hauses sadly is woefully under-performed; thank you for posting. Cna you give us performance details- the orchestra and director?
UlfenDaddy 1 year ago
@UlfenDaddy This is the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra conducting by its general music director, Zoltán Kocsis. This was the consecration of the Hungarian National Concert Hall in 2005. After this piece there was other pieces from the three greatest Hungarian composers: Liszt, Bartók and Kodály. I uploaded also the Liszt piano concerto from this concert.
1984robert 1 year ago
@1984robert Thanks much! Such an elegant, Crisp, clean and quick performance! The lil' concertmaster is one FINE violinist, odd bowing techniques (grip esp.) but he sure makes it work. I had no idea Hungary had such a fine ensemble; this is fully World-class, and well-deserving of an awsome new home. Very interesting choice of this piece for the dedication too-- very much tinged with Magyar rhythms and character. Bravo Maestro Kocsis and all! Thanks for posting and replying.
UlfenDaddy 1 year ago
@UlfenDaddy Not only Hungary. a country of 10 million people, has many world class ensembles, it also produced such world class conductors as Fritz Reiner, George Szell, Antal Dorati, Sir George Solti, Istvan Kertesz, Eugene Ormandy, and plenty others, in addition to Kocsis.
starborg9 1 year ago
@starborg9: I was taken to hear Ormandy when I was 5 years old; he is much responsible for my love of music in general and Orchstra especially. Later I had the privilege to attend conducting symposium with Dr Szell in Cleveland, and a very few sessions with Maestro Dorati in Detroit. Beethoven himself certainly highly regarded Hungarian music and musicianship! Bravos.
UlfenDaddy 1 year ago
At 2:08 the trumpets are too loud... I can't hear the bassoons! D:
KiyoKenshin 1 year ago
@KiyoKenshin Thats not nearly as important as the trumpet part
Violinkid05 1 year ago
@Violinkid05 well yeah, but nobody can HARDLY EVER hear the woodwinds!! D:
KiyoKenshin 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
pyzlzh in my personal view, this overture is the best overture in the world, I have listened this piece about more than 1000 times and it keep push my mind into very active mood!!! very time I heard it I feel any problem in the life can be overcome!!!
so I fully suggest everyone can listen to it and feel the power of classic music
pyzlzh 1 year ago
Comment removed
pyzlzh 1 year ago
Comment removed
pyzlzh 1 year ago
The hall is amazing
Underheifetz 1 year ago
I think the tempo works just fine! I'm in the line that Beethoven would've liked the tempi chosen here!
1907Quarter 1 year ago
Du grand art né d'un Génie exceptionnel. Si il put composer 10 ans encore...
1969georges 2 years ago
certainly one of my favorites from beethoven, but on this occasion it is too fast and so loses definition and dynamics.
transcan321 2 years ago
he said it was apporpiate for opening a new theatre because art, poetry and drama were all sacrad to him and if it was alright to play it in a sacrad place like a church then it was ok to play it in a theatre- hop i answered ur question :)
annaer123 2 years ago
I agree, although I certainly am not an expert on Beethoven or music in general. David Zinman, an American who is chief conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zürich, ups the tempo in Beethoven's works. I have read that many contemporary conductors, like Zinman, believe that a faster tempo is more in line with Beethoven's original intentions.
I thought Maestro Kocsis did a beautiful job with one of Beethoven's most majestic works.
Ausgezeichnet!
Caleb96 2 years ago
whoa - sounds like they're going to a fire - is this piece composed ala Handel supposed to be this fast?
js1mom 2 years ago
Lately, some conductors have gone more toward presenting Beethoven's stated metronome markings for his compositions, and more often than not, these are much faster than what have been usually presented in the past.
yohannbiimu 2 years ago
i really like this! i have some music courseowrk on it but im not too sure why it is appropriate for the opening of a new theatre? x
EmilyClassical1994 3 years ago
Who knows Beethoven's thoughs? Anyway this is the consecration of the Hungarian National Concert Hall.
1984robert 2 years ago
Its an overture for a play--
Romeoawaits 2 years ago
EmilyClassical1994 -- I don't know if you've found the answer already, but it's "appropriate" because Beethoven was commissioned compose the work in honor of the reopening of the Josephstädter Theater in Vienna in October 1822. I also really like it. A somewhat underappreciated work by the master.
Galantski 2 years ago
he said it was apporpiate for opening a new theatre because art, poetry and drama were all sacrad to him and if it was alright to play it in a sacrad place like a church then it was ok to play it in a theatre- hop i answered ur question :)
annaer123 2 years ago
It's not popular as Egmont, Coriolan, Fidelio
and leonore 3. But I think this is the best Beethoven overture.
shannonzzang 3 years ago 8
It's just my preference, but this overture is my favorite by Beethoven. Whether it's his "best," I'll leave that determination to folks who are far more expert than I am.
yohannbiimu 2 years ago
I can not *believe* the camera missed the most important single part of the show --- the *bassoon solo*! But, at least you can *hear* it (2:08 to 2:32). Hmmm . . . some of this reading is a little "stiff" and "Teutonic", but, on balance, it's one of the better renderings of "Consecration of the House" that I've heard, and the tonality of this orchestra is glorious! Thanks, 1984robert!
sdingeswho 3 years ago
the passage of music that starts at 3:13 is very beautiful, but i like it played slower.
Eggs101 3 years ago
Every note written by one man. Isn't that astounding?
tubez4321 3 years ago 9
This is a seldom heard of beethoven`s music. This overture is so magnificent. Thanks for posting.
ilorts 3 years ago 2