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

Tags:

• leonard
• bernstein
• three
• beethoven
• choral
• ode
• joy
• ninth
• symphony
• placido
• domingo
• Vienna
• Philharmonic
• Orchestra

[mindstormsabrewin]

@mmadonna62341 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!

[shaneusary117]

Beethoven plus Schiller equals sheer "Freude," indeed. The EU wisely chose this piece as the union's "anthem." Most appropriate. "Deine Zauber binden wieder/Was die Mode streng geteilt."

[slitor]

4:08 HAHA! he LEPT in the AIR! what a GREAT conductor!

[vhulheim]

@mindstormsabrewin YEAH! i feel teh same wayz about pr0nZ!!!  :D

[Jlaue22]

So this was my reaction for Community coming back on air.

[musicaljohnson]

Vangelis to Beethoven? Simple music for simple minds...

[billace90]

Five stars. Placido was really young there. I guess that was in the early 70's.

[schmuckenheimer9]

Does anybody else hate when other interpretations of this symphony play the Prestissimo finale rather slowly? It takes all of the excitement of that finale away

[rafaelb1026]

I almost cried no joke , this symphony is too good way to good to be considered benevolent

[macdaddy912]

@axcrewe im sorry did you just compare Vangelis to Bethoven...

[MrOncucar]

4:11 the angels have a last thing to pronounce... i used to cry at that part. i actually cry now. i am not gay.