Leonard Bernstein performs Beethoven's Ode to Joy - Finale

Leonard Bernstein conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in Beethoven's Ode to Joy. This is the final part of the piece, which contains the incredible Prestissimo Finale.

This portion of the movement begins with the contrapuntal union of the Ode to Joy and the Church Theme from the previous clip by the full chorus.

After the choral fugue, the soloists return in a lighter, more carefree rendition of the Ode to Joy theme (2:32). Seizing on their excitement, the chorus join the soloists in the song of joy (3:10). Soon, however, the chorus falls silent as the soloists reflect one final time on the divine inspiration for joy and brotherhood with heart-rendingly beautiful cadenzas (4:13).

These cadenzas lead us to the Prestissimo finale. After a silence and a quick crescendo of strings (5:18-5:27), the entire cast, every chorus member and every player down to the triangle, launches into the finale with guns blazing. After one more interruption by a gigantic, surreal Maestoso (6:14-6:37), the orchestra charges full speed ahead to the final cadence.

• Category

  Music

[mindstormsabrewin]

Not just good. Miraculous! I am very honored and privileged to be alive in this time when at the touch of your fingers you can access some of the greatest art and ideas from human history. Even though things are messed up on this planet and some people seem intent on making things as bad as possible, we are really in an incredible world. I just hope the good guys can save the day! This music really shows just what one inspired person can achieve.

[mindstormsabrewin]

The greatest music ever written. This is what evolution of consciousness sounds like. Imagine what this must have done to people hearing it for the first time. There were no records or ipods. No youtube. NOTHING on Earth could have prepared them for this! People travelled for days to hear a symphony. It was a spiritual pilgrimage for many. This must have sent them away Enlightened and in pure awe. And to think..... a DEAF MAN wrote it! ANYTHING is possible!

[WarriorSage2]

If you like this version you'll love the opening for the Nagano Olympics also on you tube

[Jej Williams]

ONE man wrote this! Anything is possible (For a European anyway) ((That includes Americans of European descent) We went to the moon and produced Mozart,Beethoven,Darwin,Shakes­peare, Isaac Newton! And I include European Jews too! Shame on Nazi's,the idiots,,with the Jews we could have ruled the world! Instead we have to fear Islam!

[COSMOTOPPER777]

When Google bought YouTube, I thought: "This will never work, the copyright attorneys will kill it." Now I realize, only Google had the clout to make it happen and do it right. As one born in 1952, I can say with some conviction: you really need to have lived through the infancy of the electronic media revolution to fully appreciate this miraculous achievement and priceless gift to mankind.

[mobus1603]

Sort of. Someone on YouTube asked what the name was of this song on the video game, Peggle. To figure out the name, I had to look up the Die Hard soundtrack, because, other than hearing it occasionally at Christmastime, that was the only specific source where I remembered hearing it. The funny thing is that I honestly hadn't seen that movie in many years. Since I don't understand the words, there would have been no way I could have figured out the name of the song just from the melody.

[John Gesselberty]

You have obviously not read the text of the Ode to Joy.  One can only feel pity for the small minded.

[MegaVangel]

expect to receive the internet MAFIA extortion letter for touching that button.

[ishtarg8]

Being a child of the Eighties, this always makes me think of Hans Gruber and his men, standing wide eyed before the glittering splendours of the Nakatomi Building's newly unsealed vault.

[Justin P]

What year was this, because it has silvertooth recording?

[locastmincer]

Admit it. You clicked on this vid because you saw DIE HARD!