Strauss: Don Quixote / Rostropovich · Karajan · Berliner Philharmoniker

Richard Strauss: Don Quixote (Finale) / Mstislav Rostropovich, cello · Ulrich Koch, viola · Herbert von Karajan, conductor · Berliner Philharmoniker / Recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie, January 1975
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[ZaddyGohan]

The part at 1:07 where all the upper strings are in unison with the cello is one of the most magical moments in all of music, gives me goosebumps every time

[emilequimperbouchard]

Best music of all time to me best part of the best tune with the best cellist and the best orchestra and possibly the best conductor of all time. This is the first piece that made me cry! An absolute work of art.

[PUCCINIMUSICK]

This IS DON QUIXOTE. This is another example of the greatness of an enlightened mind. Slava at his best, an orchestra which remains a paradigm, supernatural conducting and visual rendering of conducting art. No words to describe all this. "I cannot teach you to conduct but I can teach how to rehearse so that you will not need to conduct at all". Well, here is the "ganzen Unterschied".

[ElliFong]

Is it fine that I never heard of him before and my eyes just started to water from listening to this?

[AY-uelj]

whoa the shots are framed so tight and they intensify the emotions

[Stevenewfan]

Divine...
Karajan and Rostropovich...
I can't believe I found this jewel!!!!

[theMad_Artist]

So heart-wrenching. Thank you, Richard Strauss, Rostropovich, Karajan, and Berlin Phil for gifting us this beauty!

[youzhilim]

It's a simple equation. Strauss + Rostropovich + Karajan = Beautiful :)

[janeanastasiamak]

Appreciate twoset and oppa for sending me here

[AdamCzarnowski]

I don't think there is anyone around today who can produce playing as exalted as this from an orchestra. Or a cellist who can play so with such compelling intensity and phrase so magically. Luckily, all of these performances were conscientiously preserved in fabulous recorded sound for those who appreciate them to discover in centuries to come.

[eliasgreen]

i always found this peace to be sublime… the staccato notes from the violins around the 2:00 mark always sounded to me like a man breathing his last breaths… truly a beautiful composition that captures the feeling of a death bed like none else… bravo!

[antfaz]

Gotta appreciate not only the composer, conductor and musicians, but the camera direction, lighting and sound techs. What a magical 2.55 minutes! I actually held back tears! Such a beautiful moment.

[sophiansimamora]

Thanks two set, this is so wonderful music

[jugglerjim]

This is incredible (in the true sense of the word - also, TwoSet sent me here as well 😎)

[engineya]

Hands down the best recording. They completely nailed it.

[marychernyshenko]

Such gentle sorrow. Just before the end, it's like there's a white feather gliding on air. So light.

[Eric-gbty]

I remember seeing Rostropovich in my early teens at the Palace of the Kings of Majorca in southern France in the Pyrenees along the Mediterranean coast.

[raedonias]

i love how twoset showing beautiful clips like that always lead to te community raiding the video
i guess bringing amaaAAAaazing pieces like that to more people is their job now

[PUCCINIMUSICK]

after 4 years, I come back to this recording. I remeber that on 25th April 1989 I was watching tv and the RAI announced, with this music, with this movie, that Karajan had left the Berlin Philharmonic. And equally so, on 16th July the same year, they told us Karajan had left us for ever. This always reminds me of those sad moments. And this Music will always mean to me the "death of Don Quixote", the death of the Hero who leaves us to a superior, transcendent reality. Karajan was all this: he was ART itself.
Two weeks ago, visiting once again Karajan's tomb in Anif and bringing a lonely rose to his graveyard, I imagined this music. And I still think and keep on thinking the Maestro is still with us, more powerful and alive as ever. Not dead, still alive. Still among us. The only one who was able to defeat death through the power and energy of His Art.

[SGTBizarro]

Wait... recorded in 1975?! This is extraordinary quality, film quality... wow. WOW.