Beethoven 9th played at home, now with added musicians

Beethoven 9th played at home, now with added musicians

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norman lebrecht

March 24, 2020

My friend Dianne Winsor, principal flute of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y Leon in virus-hit Spain, has sent over a video she and her locked-down colleagues have made of the finale of Beethoven’s 9th symphony.

Like the viral Rotterdam version, it’s made by musicians in their home to a pre-ordained click-track (wonder who’s conducting).

Unlike Rotterdam, it seems to involve half the orchestra – possibly half the town.

That’s Dianne in the top-left hand corner of the screen at around 2:05. And the percussion fade-out is a total dissolve – almost in tears.

As of this morning, the Rotterdam Beethoven 9th has been watched 291,000 times on Slipped Disc, and a million times overall.

Comments

  • Player says:

    So, great music + great musicians + a click track = a moving experience. Go figure. No conductor necessary.

    • John Holmes says:

      Yes, but it’s not really Beethoven IX. That really *would* be something if they were playing all hour+ virtually. It’s two mins of tune.
      But well done to them anyway

      • Donald Goldberg says:

        You may be technically correct, but at the same time you are so very wrong. These folks worked extremely hard to coordinate their talent, time and energy with the sole goal of lifting our spirits in a very troubling time. And for that, we owe them a debt of gratitude.

  • Mustafa Kandan says:

    For those of us in the Western world, who have fully grasped the current situation, this is the saddest time since the second world war. There are two consolations. The first one is that at least we are not getting bombed. The second is that the majority of people elsewhere always lived under much worse conditions. At least this crisis may teach us to treasure the privileges we have, provided we still retain them at the end.

  • R. Brite says:

    Of course they do have a conductor – we’re just not seeing her or him. I may like this one even more than the Rotterdam version. It’s simpler and has a more urgent message.

    • Player says:

      No, I don’t think they have a conductor. Somebody had to lay down a click track, but they’re looking at their parts, not a superfluous dancer.

  • Ellen Bardekoff says:

    I am a professional oboist. THis brought me to tears.

    • Ellen,

      Good morning. My dad, may he rest in peace was an oboist with the LA Phil, Met, Cleveland, Mexico Metropolitan and guest principal with Tokoyo..Bert Gassman. Looking forward to sharing more notes..Carol

  • June says:

    Beautiful!

  • Judy Tepley says:

    Tears of joy mostly but there they are. In gratitude. Jt

  • Patricia says:

    ¡Maravilloso! Un gran agradecimiento desde California. (Wonderful! A big “thank you” from California.)

  • Ali says:

    This is wonderful. It made me cry!

  • Ann Wendel says:

    Wow!

  • PS says:

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  • Ivana says:

    Thank you, moving, it let me feel part of a human spirit together

  • Tom Schumacher says:

    Wonderfully sensitive contribution during this very sad time. Thank you for this beautiful gesture!

  • Robert Craig says:

    Wonderful; please do this kind of presentation more often, e.g. once a month, week?

  • Mathias Vanos says:

    Really enjoyed this, a very fine offering by dedicated artists!
    BUT, Beethoven would have very much liked to hear his beloved KETTLEDRUMS. That was about the only thing he could still hear at that time. Thank you very much.

  • Gail Crissman says:

    Thank you. We need more of this at this most difficult time. Made me cry.

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