Netherlands Symphony Orchestra - Danse Macabre

Netherlands Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Joost Smeets
Danse Macabre - Camille Saint-Saëns

[dizzyology]

Many comments have praised (and a few criticized) the violin soloist but nobody has identified her. Her name is Carla Leurs, and her violin was made in 1808 by Parisian luthier Nicholas Lupot. <End of factual section, opinion begins here, > I've listened to dozens of interpretations of this piece, and I would call the overall performance here very good, though second in intensity to the spine-chilling rendition by Gustavo Dudamel and the Venezuelan youth orchestra. But for my money, Ms. Leurs absolutely nails the solo part. I don't care whether she misses a note here and there, I don't care that she moves around as she plays -- she leans into the piece musically as well as physically and makes that violin a truly terrifying instrument of the Devil. This is what I imagine it would sound like if we could have heard Paganini play that part. Bravissimo!

[wiekvanvenetie]

The soloist gave the emotion to the piece which the conductor should've given too. This piece is about spooky skeletons, not about relaxing in a beautiful landscape with some fairies.

[Bosski]

Wow, excellent performance.  The lady on violin was awesome.  Such raw emotion.  You could see how deeply she was affected by the music.  I love that!  Passion!!

[radagasttherd]

Aside from one or two mistakes, this is probably my favorite interpretation of the lead violin's part in this piece. Truly a masterpiece.

[jterry]

5:36 concert master giving the trombones the eye for not coming in on tempo

[stevepoynton]

I had the privilege of going to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in July 2015 to watch the 'Summer Classics at the Movies' concert. Danse Macabre was one of many pieces they played that evening. It has always been my favourite classical piece and I attended this concert purely because this was being played (although all the pieces played that night were amazing). I had listened to Danse Macabre on youtube many times before, but to experience it live was something else. To see first-hand the passion of all the musicians of the orchestra was mesmerising. And to hear all those instruments playing in perfect harmony in that amazing concert hall was an experience I will never forget. I have since watched this video well over 100 times and I will continue to for as long as I am alive. Such a powerful yet beautiful piece of music which never fails to bring tears to my eyes and make every hair on my body stand up. Thank you for posting this wonderful video which brings back so many happy memories :).

[equinoxesandra]

de geweldige muziek van het spookslot in de efteling :)

[dahunlee]

I really love the soloist! I love her interpretation... Really emotional!

[ogreatperkyone]

That viola section is fantastic! Can't stop listening to this!

[tandraig]

I think this must be the 500th time I have played this vid - it still moves me and I am still in awe of the passion this violinist played the piece with. its rare to see, most orchestras are boring because they sit there like stuffed dummies and play all the right notes in the right music MUST be played with feeling or its just like going through the motions. Nobody could accuse most members of this orchestra of doing that. that is why, although it wasn't as technically correct as it could have been - it is a wonderful musical experience!!!

[mwoz]

to people that say the concert mistress should have played with the orchestra. you do all realize for this piece you have to tune down the e string so she would not be able to play with the ensemble?

[zachlewis]

Great to hear this piece at what I feel is the correct tempo.  As for the Mistress, I found her animation refreshing.  Danse is a poetic performance in itself with the concert mistress as the principle player.

[nathalie]

1:23 Lol. The guy was like "Whoot she scared me!"

[Pippistrelle]

Absolute perfection. The violin solo is spot on. It sounds so emotional, like it's the last time it's ever going to be played. Just how I think it should sound. I cry with emotion at this.

[gothicagypsy]

Zo mooi zo ✨😍😌prachtig gespeeld bravo👏👏👏 🎻💯Maestro!🎼🎶🎶🎶🎶

[davkatjenn]

Everyone involved with this nailed it. Excellent !!!

[michieldebont]

Hardstikke mooi gespeeld, dit is echt een mooi stuk.

[BarbaraHicks-rd]

Oh lawks, back again cos I love this SO much! ❤😊

[saxophone]

Wow this is an fantastic version of the Danse Macabre, absolutely amazing! Being absorbed in the music, surely the musicians have no time or energy left to think about something as unimportant as body movements, they're simply giving their very best. And yeah, when the music and rhytmn is there, it is inevitable to have body movements! For some musicians this may be more than for others: so what?!?

To all critical people who can surely (not 😂) play this music just as well or even better or even more beautiful, while managing their body in what they consider an appropriate way (or not, feel free): please upload your own Danse Macabre on the instrument of your choice!!!

If people have nothing interesting, constructive or encouraging to say, why do they feel the need to share their negativity here on You Tube? Do they not see how pathetic it is to ventilate such unfriendly critical remarks, written quickly and anonymously from behind their computers?

Please keep in mind these musicians have sacrificed so much time and studied so hard to get to this level: it's good to appreciate this! How do you think these musicians will feel when reading these opinions: is that what they deserve after having given such an outstanding performance?

[BarbaraHicks-rd]

I'm back again and thankyou for the update on the soloist. I think she's awesome! 😊❤