Bernstein winking at Brahms while Vienna Philharmonic sweats — 84 minutes of pure orchestral ego.
Between 1981 and 1984 Leonard Bernstein recorded nearly all of Brahms' orchestral works with the Wiener Philharmoniker to honour the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth in 1983. For the concertos, Bernstein enlisted the services of some of the finest Brahms interpreters of the time: the violoninst Gidon Kremer, the cellist Mischa Maisky and the pianist Krystian Zimerman. Seeing Bernstein enjoying himself while conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in these lighter, familiar works by Brahms added to the pleasure I got from them. The Academic Festival Overture is especially well done. Some conductors don't seem to get it, but Bernstein did.
Direction
Bernstein's face doing 90% of the emotional heavy lifting.
Production
Vienna Philharmonic looking bored and brilliant simultaneously.
Editing
Cuts between sweat and strings that know exactly what they're doing.
Director
Humphrey Burton
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 1983-84 cycle was Bernstein's late-career victory lap with the orchestra he considered his European home.
The Academic Festival Overture quotes student drinking songs; Bernstein reportedly insisted on extra rehearsal for the 'party' section.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
