Opus 80

 “Choral Fantasy” Opus 80                                             Ludwig von Beethoven   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSfMH9Y5bi8&t=1269s

 Seiji Ozama            conductor

Martha Algerich      piano

Saito Kinen Orchestra and Chorus  This performance was to celebrate the conductor’s 81st birthday!  

You can hear how the melody wanders, in variations, through the orchestra, visiting every instrument or group of instruments, and of course the chorus, prompted and called back by the piano.

Brilliant composition. Genius Beethoven. See my piece on 1st page of music category. Ludwig was 38 when he composed opus 80. (1808)  Almost 220 years ago. It is considered a precursor to the finale of his 9th symphony.

Notice Seiji Ozawa, his energy, his connection with the 200+ musicians. He doesn’t even open his partiture.  (full score) It is all in his head and heart.

The energy in the orchestra and chorus makes me want to be one of them.

The lyrics are listed below, both in German and in English.

 

Another remarkable performance:      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I8AT3S3iRc

Laurence Equilbey   conductor                               

Alice Sara Ott           piano

Insula Orchestra, performing on period instruments ,  Choir: Accentus    2016

 A smaller cast, but crystal clear, lighter and faster.   Alice’s touch is lighter, I find.  Brilliant!

I am always amazed that soloists have time to look into the orchestra while they are playing.

 

And for good measure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3V8IlaEA2Q&t=1157s

Leonard Bernstein    conductor

Homero Francesch    piano

Wiener Philharmoniker Orchestra, Wiener Jeunesse-Chor               1985

 

Barenboim is conductor and soloist.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjiznsY0PVg

Daniel Barenboim

Berliner Philharmoniker ,  Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper

 

 

ENJOY!!!

NJOYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjiznsY0PVg

 

 

Lyrics

Schmeichelnd hold und lieblich klingen
unseres Lebens Harmonien,
und dem Schönheitssinn entschwingen
Blumen sich, die ewig blühn.
Fried und Freude gleiten freundlich
wie der Wellen Wechselspiel.
Was sich drängte rauh und feindlich,
ordnet sich zu Hochgefühl.

Wenn der Töne Zauber walten
und des Wortes Weihe spricht,
muss sich Herrliches gestalten,
Nacht und Stürme werden Licht.
Äuß're Ruhe, inn're Wonne
herrschen für den Glücklichen.
Doch der Künste Frühlingssonne
läßt aus beiden Licht entstehn.

Großes, das ins Herz gedrungen,
blüht dann neu und schön empor.
Hat ein Geist sich aufgeschwungen,
hallt ihm stets ein Geisterchor.
Nehmt denn hin, ihr schönen Seelen,
froh die Gaben schöner Kunst
Wenn sich Lieb und Kraft vermählen,
lohnt den Menschen Göttergunst.[10]

Graceful, charming and sweet is the sound
Of our life's harmonies,
and from a sense of beauty arise
Flowers which eternally bloom.
Peace and joy advance in perfect concord,
like the changing play of the waves.
All that was harsh and hostile,
has turned into sublime delight.

When music's enchantment reigns,
speaking of the sacred word,
Magnificence takes form,
The night and the tempest turns to light:
Outer peace and inner bliss
Reign o'er the fortunate ones.
All art in the spring's sun
Lets light flow from both.

Greatness, once it has pierced the heart,
Then blooms anew in all its beauty.
Once one's being has taken flight,
A choir of spirits resounds in response.
Accept then, you beautiful souls,
Joyously the gifts of high art.
When love and strength are united,
Divine grace is bestowed upon Man.[10]

T

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Post

This I believe

  End of January 2007, I kissed my life in upstate New York goodbye. My kids all grown up in South Florida and Seattle, my body aching, my future in a dark storm cloud looming directly over me, I realized nothing made sense any longer. I signed over the apartment lease, gave the cat and plants new homes, divided my stuff between Salvation Army and storage, and drove out of state for a year of reflection and regrouping.   That really was the plan: a twelve-months’ sabbatical with exposure to new places and people, to recharge the battery, come back to Upstate and put all that newness in place for the next stage in my life: the golden years! As I crossed the border into Pennsylvania and waved New York goodbye, I knew I would never live there again. In one flash, my neatly planned sabbatical became a pilgrimage. Destiny: unknown, Goals: keep breathing Obligations: one and one only: connect with my core and find out what it wants, without the comfort of income, ruts to...
Read more

Auto biographies

If you want to take a hard look at your life and plot your future, look at how you came to be where you are now.  Go into your past to find your future. Easily said, but where to start or how to go about that? The real motivators behind our significant decisions often hide behind routine explanations. Incident by incident they help us slip through the escape doors we invent to justify our actions. If your autobiography has to produce honest answers, you have to find honest questions.  What do you want from it? Analysis? The red line through your life’s story? The helicopter view? The out-of body-experience? The way forward?   If you're done with the popular chronological format, may I invite you to rearrange the order? Organize the events in your life in different context. Here are a few examples: List all the schooling, that is all education, continued education, mentoring, self-study you have done over the years. Include all the reasons why you engaged i...
Read more

Does your money respect you?

  Do you have a mutually respectful relationship with your money? You probably give money much more importance than it gives you. Maybe your money is constantly demanding your attention, like a jealous lover, stressing, pushing, seductive, and illusive.   But what about you? Do you receive the same care and concern from your money? What does money give you in return?   Peace of mind? Stability? Harmony? When is it your turn to decide and guide the relationship? If you were king or queen of your money, what would your domain look like?   This is my money whisper for today : Take charge of your money affairs and let your money court you for a change.     August 2010  
Read more