Beethoven Choral Fantasy - Alfred Brendel/New York Philharmonic (1991)

Alfred Brendel performs Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by James Levine. This performance formed part of the Carnegie Hall Centennial Gala Concert, which took place in 1991.

[@TheTmackey]

When I see Levine conduct I feel a deep sadness. So great and yet …

[@robertdeland3390]

Brendel's playing is almost always understated which is why I prefer his version of everything, including this. His technique is unassailable. His understated emotional content is for me overpowering!

[@MrKlemps]

Don't you mean "emotionally neutral"?

[@renaudpontier]

Dans cette œuvre , il y a une puissance d'entrainement, une force irrésistible, tout à fait caractéristique de Beethoven.
C'est magnifique.

[@catherinehees1625]

Music from heaven! Brendel’s playing is crystal clear and awe inspiring. I have heard very few pianists that could compare. Thank you for a delightful, joyous concert!

[@brianswanson9881]

Alfred Brendel, my favorite Pianist. Well done Alfred.

[@srothbardt]

As an opera conductor, Levine handles the choral part better than anyone else.

[@clairdelune4387]

Merci beaucoup ! c'est magnifique ..

[@aaronjorgefridman5662]

Una obra GRANDIOSA magnificamente interpretada por dos GRANDES. Un verdadero placer

[@VladVexler]

Thank you so much for sharing this. A mature reading from Alfred here. There is, so often, a lack of clear vision among pianists about how to handle the improvisatory piano introduction.

[@ChristophersMusic]

Thanks for watching. Interesting point about the introduction.

[@FABrendel]

Agreed! Read Beethoven himself improvised in the premier.
Brendel's hierarchy and experience with singers show as well. The accompaniment! So precise!

[@jackiepike1466]

Interpretation: the best
Pianist: the best
Conductor: the best
Music: a masterpiece

[@maxchristianesteffan2321]

@@jackiepike1466 my favorite is Alice Sara Ott. But to each his own. :-)
For sure best music piece of all.

[@jackiepike1466]

@@maxchristianesteffan2321 I will check her out, thank you! 🙂

[@elenabogni2426]

Maestro,Pianista e Coro eccezzionali con la loro formidabile Orchestra.
Riproduzione non classificabile.Grazie.

[@alanwitton5980]

Wonderful

[@benvaneert4586]

Beste pianist allertijde

[@reginaldsawyer2945]

Happy Birthday Beethoven.

[@l1mmg0t]

if you don't appreciate Beethoven's music, you waste your life.

[@roberts932]

Maybe, but only if you understood Mozart beforehand.

[@jamesbrennan6022]

There is another TH-cam performance with Martha Argerich and Ozawa, who simply forget all the issues and constraints and play. They could be improvising it into existence. And it works - both as a piece and an occasion, which is what Beethoven wanted.

[@MrKlemps]

In the final years of career as his health gave out, Ozawa conducted some excellent performances--on a level that had eluded him throughout his glamorous, jet-setting career. The one you mention is very moving as is his work in rehearsal with a group of student string orchestra players on the slow movement of Beethoven's Op.135.

[@WowikusUA]

Good!

[@mauriciogomes1466]

Kissin and Abbado to me it is best!

[@martinstremlow2997]

I prefer Homero Francesch with Leonard Bernstein and Wiener Philharmoniker

[@davidhughes3260]

Back in the 90s you could still miss notes and it was ok.

[@tedward4658]

For me, the most powerful player of the sonatas. Great to see an up tempo number. Anyone got Piano Concerto 3 by Brendel?

[@tedward4658]

And a great horn section....

[@VladVexler]

Search for a video of Alfred with Claudio Abbasid playing the 3rd. It’s better than any of the disc recordings he made.

[@denizovecoglu6759]

Chicago Symp. under the direction of James Levine. Grand performance.

[@scrivener6450]

I agree, His recording of Op. 111 in his first set (on Vox) has never been equaled.

[@mariaazzan8625]

Outstanding performance there is another with kissin and claudio aboudo berlin phil which is just as outstanding if not better

[@user-go8yl3nu9d]

🇰🇷🇰🇷🇰🇷👍👍👍😇😇😇🙏🙏🙏

[@craigmumm2150]

Fine performance but the piano tuner didn’t do a good job. The instrument is out of tune.

[@kennethpiters6231]

Correct. Not sure why no one else is noticing. The piano is a bit of a dog. Lower registers are ponderous. He deserved a better instrument.

[@mbsztulman]

???????

[@robertoa.m.3984]

Pity the bad quality recording and reproduction

[@daviddemers9093]

Sorry, but Maestro Rudolf Serkin owned this piece.

[@remomazzetti8757]

Nobody owns any piece of music.

[@lukedaniell]

I was always partial to Otto Klemperer, with a young Daniel Barenboim on the piano.

[@hemiolaguy]

I had the privilege of singing in the chorus of this piece at Tanglewood in the mid-80's. Rudolf Serkin played. Thrilling!

[@MrKlemps]

R Serkin's reording with L Bernstein conducting the NYP puts the Brendel / Levine performance in the shade. Worth noting: how positively UNfestive both of them looked afterward. They seemed temperamentally at odds throughout , and only their resolute professionalism got them throughout it.

[@daviddemers9093]

@@remomazzetti8757 by "own", I only mean in my humble opinion the Serkin performances of this piece were beyond compare. Sorry!

[@remotoadamotroppovelocelaf868]

Bravi ma l'interpretazione di riferimento è Klemperer-Baremboim

[@NealBrenard]

I'm no one to criticize Beethoven, but this one is oddly wooden, desperate, and schematic. Isn't it? Even for Beethoven? Finding a fragment of a tune, cutting it off, romping off in a different direction, endless trills. The piano player is there for sound effects. Sounds like he composed it with a gun to his head. I liked this a lot better fifty years ago when we sang it with more gusto. And more of a sense of humor.