Beethoven Symphony No. 5 Comparison Bernstein, Karajan, Ozawa, Jansons

This video shows the opening of Beethoven s iconic Symphony No. 5, conducted by four highly respected conductors. It is interesting because it shows the differences in each maestro s approach to this opening. One thing is for sure; all four capture an intensity in the movement that people readily recognise in Beethoven s music. Leonard Bernstein Bernstein seems to take more time than the other three conductors, with longer silences between musical gestures. He is also the only example to give more than a down beat to open the work. He raises his arms to indicate a crescendo on the first long note (E flat) which keeps the intensity throughout the note. Despite not being a typical Allegro con Brio the storminess of the opening is very much captured. Herbert von Karajan Here, Karajan conducts with his usual short baton and closed eyes. The tempo is quicker here than Bernstein s and the pauses are brought off and the next sounds comes in more quickl