Symphony No 4 in B flat Major, op 60 1. Adagio-Allegro vivace 2. Adagio 3. Menuetto: Allegro vivace-Trio: Un poco meno allegro 4. Allegro ma non troppo Philharmonia Orchestra Herbert von Karajan, conductor London, 13.;16. & 19.XI.1953
As in "heart-breakingly beautiful", not in a teary kind of way. That's what Bach does to me too, and Mozart. and Chopin and a few others, because it feels like their music is so perfect that it just takes you to a place where only Beauty can exist, not marred by anything else.And it's a heart-breaking thing ,being in the presence of that sublime beauty because it's not how most of our daily lives look like. Hope that makes sense..
+olasylvia1 : I think the 4th is my favorite LVB symphony for all of the reasons you beautifully wrote. Sublime is not a word we get to use very often, or justifiably, but in the case of the 4th it's perfect.
This was considered "long" at first, as Haydn's symphonies were shorter, and most folks thought "If it was good enough for Master Haydn".... Ludwig sure showed the world how to break rules!
I don't have words to express myself how this wonderful, the sinfonia # 4 by Beethoven. Karajan makes me feel. Happy, to know that only GOD ALMIGHTY can inspire this composition, in a human being. 😢❤🎉
May I give you all a shock? I'm 59 years old, I claim to love classical music and I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS SYMPHONY BEFORE!!!!!!! Sad isn't it? I sincerely hope someone will reply to this comment of mine and rebuke me soundly! I mean it! The least I can do is to give this recording a like.
It's probably overshadowed by the Third which was a milestone because of its sheer scale and the Fifth with its well-known opening! But yes wonderful indeed! Thanks for your comment kind regards David
I have you beat, my man: i am 63, and well versed in the best music of the last 1000+ years of "Western" music.... yet this is the very first time i've listened to this delightful masterpiece, which is SOOOOO under-rated - but which contains one of the finest symphonic movements ever written: the second of course!! If it were written by ANY other composer, it would be hailed as one of his Best Things Ever, but alas it is overshadowed by Beethoven's bigger, better, badasser symphonies: 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9. Pity!!
Absolutely brilliant. I think fourth movement is about a mouse, an habitual visitor, that Beethoven tries to step on, but never can. The mouse scurries on, and Beethoven writes his masterpiece.
en cualquiera de sus sinfonías y en cualquier momento de ellas, siempre descubro un nuevo instante de placer que hace que mi admiración hacia él nunca descanse...
16:12.......... WOW!!!!! This has to rate as one of the best musical surprises in history: Haydn you go and sit in the corner and watch how its done, lol.
Wouldn't say that about one of the most influencial man in music history, especialy in the symphonic form and the sonata. Also beethoven would never like someone saying that about one of his masters!
@@elie2133 A compromise solution to this dilemma is to recognize that Beethoven revered Haydn and had the morally and appropriate instincts not to try to openly offend the "inventor" of the symphonic form. However, Beethoven would have had absolutely no problem whatsoever conducting his own works with Haydn sitting in the corner (his "corner" being "front and center") perhaps even bristling at the newness and freshness of Beethoven's inventiveness .... and Beethoven would have had the strong and deep faith, like a prize fighter has during a very challenging bout, that his "team" (i.e. coach, medic, etc.) was "in his corner" during the heavyweight match that was any of his symphonic premiers.
I don't know why, but when von Karajan conducts Beethoven, I have the impression that they were contemporaries. Something tells me that the great Herbert von Karajan was born to conduct Beethoven as Beethoven would have wanted.
The reason why he is the best known is because he was a marketing genius. Its sad that the public still believes that a conductor can make music. Can you hear him ????
@@pytagoresque, you can hear him. Just like any other conductor. By setting the tempies or driving the orchestra, for instance. There is a difference between every conductor and you CAN hear it! Furtwängler and Karajan were the best conductors for the symphonies of Beethoven.
@@pytagoresque - It's got it's difficulties, judging orchestra conductors. The fact is, works of music are interpreted by the musicians in a small ensemble, or conductors in orchestras. So, a symphony conducted by one person, would sound different than another. But, like in the American game of football, there are many skilled quarterbacks who don't "make it", and that's largely on how good their offensive line is. In the symphony orchestra, the big name conductors are allotted more time to prepare for the performance. Time is money, especially for the number of people who make up an orchestra. Big money. The lesser known conductors have less time to work with their orchestra before having to perform. The bigger names, like Karajan or Bernstein get the most time to work out the many details in an symphony. Also, the bigger names get the better recording equipment and technicians. So, as it turns out, there are better performances of pieces of music, and they don't sound the same.
@@detlefneubert1759 don't care about the past, the best Beethoven is played now. Music exists only in the moment, we can not keep it. After this lockdowns we will get the chance to listen to the best Beethoven ever. Live in concert- the only way
In the Menuetto and in some other parts of this symphony Beethoven anticipated the invention of the automobile -- and taking the car for a nice drive in the country!
Yo que tantas veces he escuchado a Beethoven me alegra redescubrir sus sinfonías 2, 4 y 8 pues hasta cierto punto me parece que son la cara oculta de un Beethoven más relajado, armonioso y musical. No tienen quizás las características beethovianas del 'pathos', las ideas extramusicales, la tensión y extremos, la exaltación y el paroxismo. Pero son refrescantes, bonitas, placenteras al oído y geniales.
Moins connue du profane cette quatrième symphonie est remarquable, on dit Beethoven vivant paisiblement lorsqu'il composât cette quatrième en Si bémol. Le scherzo indique "l'ère romantique" chère à Beethoven, ses meilleures oeuvres sont, ça n'engage que son auteur, post classicisme. En attendant la Cinquième autrement plus révélatrice s'agissant de sa surdité...
Beethoven para escribir la 9 sinfonía tuvo que escribir 8 sinfonías, en la novena sinfonía hizo el corolario de toda su música y no fue vanidoso amalgo (algoritmo) el himno a la alegría. No entiendo porque Beethoven y Gabriel García se fueron tan rápido.
Einfach GROßartig! Ich verstehe bis heute die Berliner Philharmoniker nicht was sie an der Interpretation von Beethovens Sinfonien durch von Karajan auszusetzen hatten!?
Klaus Ackermann- Karajan:Er hatte etwas zu wenig Gefuehl fuer die Seele der Musik. Aber sonst dirigierte er richtig. gregorkoidl@centrum.cz Bin selber Beethoven und Smetana alo kann ich das beurteilen. Ohne Scherz Gregor Koidl
Beethoven symphonies as I feel it, inspire not only Bravery, but also lead to the Final Victory of Good over evil! Read please Apocalypse! Tepper Michail.
Check the recording of Furtwaengler with the Berlin Philharminc, that is closer to perfect ;-) Karajan, with most of his recordings is just running it through. Although at the end it is all down to perception and personal taste ;-)
Encore et toujours c'est histoire de vitesse d'exécution. Choisir le bon tempo c'est s'assurer du bon déroulement de l'oeuvre : tout s'en trouve facilité, et c'est alors seulement qu'on peut y mettre les nuances et les intentions opportunes. Karajan qu'on a pourtant souvent critiqué pour sa précipitation, à l'époque, était pourtant le plus souvent dans le vrai. Ceci est une des clefs de sa réussite. Freiner l'exécution d'une oeuvre n'est pas si grave, mais l'accélérer est TOUJOURS une erreur. Se retrouver au volant d'une Ferrari comme la Philharmonie de Berlin ne signifie pas forcément rouler pied au plancher. Le grand Herbert l'avait bien compris.
Beethoven"s symphonies are unavoidable Garantee for the best part of mankind (in the last incarnation)that it shall ine- vitably be driven by Christ to the Father"s Bosom! In the Light of the Spiritual Science or Anthroposophy.
@didier schein I’m quite well aware that Aromanian differs from Armenian What I meant was that Karajan was of Armenian Origin. Disputable. I know. But it boosts my Armenian egocentricity :)
@@andysoul295 Good morning, I know that Karajan`s family was some Aromanians from Greece and his father or grandfather emigrated in Wien. I`m not Aromanian but I have much admiration for the armenian culture. I think that you can boot your egocentricity with the personality of the composer Tigran Mansurian, for example. Have a nice day.
Amen bro!! Tell it like it is. Anyone disliking this great recording of this delightful yet underrated masterpiece, should be taken out to sea and set adrift with only AC/DC and Kiss songs on his or her ipod.
