Posted on 07/25/2015 4:32:10 PM PDT by nwrep
On July 25, 1788, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart completed his Symphony No. 40 in G minor, the second to last of his symphonies.
To Robert Schumann in the 19th century, the symphony was a work of "Grecian lightness and grace," while for a later writer, Alfred Einstein, there are passages that "plunge to the abyss of the soul."
Such ambiguity is perhaps apt for one of the greatest works of a composer whose music so frequently defies adequate description. The symphony is cast in the usual four movements; the opening Molto allegro immediately announces something unusual by starting not with characteristic loud "call to attention," but with quietly spoken agitation. The uneasy passion of the main theme leads to conclusions that seem to protest rather than find any consolation. The movement's dominant feeling is urgency: upbeat after upbeat after upbeat occurs. Amid great instability and a questioning aura, we experience a peek into Don Giovanni's abyss. In the finale, the horns intrude with wild swatches of color. There is even an eerie twelve-note insertion after the double bar in the Allegro assai section.
Excellent
Dark and brooding.
Dark and brooding.
I grew up in Boston and used to see Bernstein conduct the BSO lots of times at Symphony Hall.
They had special concerts for kids on Saturday mornings.
Those were the days!
how old was he...pretty young on our standards I bet
yea thats it how old was Mozi @ that Time
Check Mail
Conducting without the score!
Wonderful music.
Thank you for posting.
Bump for later
Very definitely Bernstein had memorized it all.
I like that lady playing the flute, I think she’s the only one with that instrument in that little ensemble.
I think the video and sound are a little off sync, because I can’t believe Bernstein would be anything other than pinpoint accurate in his beat.
I’ll try to keep digging. What was the name of the album?
I have the album, have to find it and will get back to you, just a matter of time.
Okeedoke.
He’s done it a million times. :)
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