Journey Into Silence - Sibelius Symphony No.6, explored by Michael Tilson Thomas. 1989.
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- čas přidán 25. 02. 2023
- In this 1989 BBC documentary, Michael Tilson Thomas reassesses the 6th Symphony of Sibelius - a neglected and ofen misunderstood masterpiece. The programme ends with Tilson conducting the LSO in a performance of the whole symphony.
The older I get the more appreciate the last two Symphonies by Jean Sibelius. Unfortunately, here in Germany he was very much looked down at for a long time due to the verdict of some influential music critics who always know it all. So, it took me a long time to find my way to him. But thank God not too late. And MTT is just great.
Yes. Sibelius is among the greatest of composers but there is a rather unattractive (and culturally insecure) tendency in Germany to look down on composers outside of the German tradition. Adorno is a particularly egregious example of the problem!
One notable exception was von Karajan who was a great Sibelian and kept performing the music throughout his whole career (and recording the 6th three times!).
Thank you for this information. I didn't know that. Karajan always seems to be good for a surprise!@@Fafner888
@Fafner888 Herbie Karajan recorded the 4th, 7th and Tapiola several times each. He obviously thought them
Important
I love Maestro Tilson Thomas and I am so sorry he's so sick
H I s program m es meant so much in Miami!
A wonderful man and wonderful music
and the reason why some works by a great composer is played to death and other works are neglected, is this: the orchestra caters to the masses, while the artist, the true creator, catered for no one, except themselves. Thank you for this interesting documentary.
This work contains the music of sanity. I feel shriven after a listening. There are few pieces of 20th century music that make me feel healed. Vaughn Williams 5th is one, the Romanza. But all of this is a complete wellbeing course.
Ditto re RVW 5th (love the serene ending too). I think it was dedicated to Sibelius, who listened to it on BBC radio during WW2 and wrote RVW a very appreciative letter.
@@davidhowe6905 it was dedicated "without permission" and with sincerest flattery.
The great thing about 20th century is sickness got a sound. Beethoven and Chopin gave us Sessions,Boulez and Henze and ChrisRouse!
Thing is, Finns are very comfortable with silence. You can stand at a bus stop, with a dozen or twenty folks in Finland total silence. Tough People, been through a lot, survivors of a bygone time in the history of humanity. I call them The Irish Scandinavians' They love Music/Stories/Nature (All Music, like the Irish) and drinking. And are as mad as a a 'Balloon' Could be, like the Irish they live on the edges of our so called civilisation. So they are allowed to be a bit 'Nutty' But if you love Music, and Drinking, visit Finland. Not just Helsinki! Summer time is gorgeous there.
Funnily enough, I'm going there next week.
That Osmo Vanska SIbelius Edition on BIS label is a thorough survey! I fell in love with Sibelius symphonies and became addicted to his symphonies only after that and other sets of works in that same edition. The recorded sound too o headphones is breathtaking! And Michael is one handsome man!
My generations Lenny!MaestroMiami!
Immensely grateful for this upload!
Do you know if Tilson Thomas made any other programmes for the BBC around that time? Thank you in advance.
I think it was just a one-off, which is a pity. He is a great communicator.
@@BuffOrpington7 He definitely is!
Did a great presentation of Charles Ives
You'd do better to listen to the music than to this. You don't need Tilson Thomas to suggest how you listen or appreciate.
@@msroper5287 it's gratifying that his talk paid dividends for you. I prefer to find my own way, limited as it must be. I've read that he was too much of a Bernstein clone, though when I've listened to recorded performances they've been mercifully free (relatively speaking) of LB's self-indulgences. I've not seen MT-T in person.
Why would you say that? I find it interesting to hear what the people who actually perform the recordings we listen to think about various works. I also find it encouraging see the high regard in which Tilson Thomas holds Sibelius, considering that he has been highly influenced by the modernists who hated him.
@@MD-md4th well I couldn't care less what they think, it's what they do that counts. If they can't transmit their ideas through the music, what good are their thoughts? To me, no use at all.