I love a good finale, who doesn’t? Writing one is a real art, in my opinion. To try and end what is sometimes close to an hour’s worth of music in 5-10 minutes is no mean feat. Below is a list of what I believe to be the top ten finales in classical music. Anyway, enjoy!
Beethoven - Symphony no. 5, movement IV
performed by Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic
“It’s ended…no it hasn’t…yes it has…no, off it goes again.” The thought
process when listening to arguably one of Beethoven’s most popular works is
something like that, anyway. This is a great example of the mastery of
Beethoven’s art; just when you think it’s all over, he recapitulates the theme
in another different way. This, accompanied with the “tonic, dominant”
repetition in the final bars show just what a finale can be; a whole lot of
fun. Bernstein’s conducting here is fascinating to watch – arms flailing
everywhere, but control second to none.
Mahler - Symphony no. 8, Alles Vergängliche
performed by Sir Simon Rattle, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, Toronto Children's Chorus, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
This was actually
one of the first pieces of classical music I listened to. My best friend at
school showed me this exact video; we plugged it into his dad’s speakers and
turned it up to full volume. I don’t think it will ever stop amazing me when I
listen to it. To go from the extremely quiet tranquillity to earth-shatteringly
loud in the space of 5 minutes is madness; it is just incredible.
Strauss - Im Abendrot from Four Last Songs
performed by Jessye Norman, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Orchestre de la Suisse
One of two peaceful and quiet finales I’ve chosen on the list. Jessye
Norman must have been born to sing this famous song cycle. The final movement
is absolute emotional heartbreak tinged with a reflective feel. When sung like
this, I can’t think of many other pieces as beautiful.
Shostakovich - Symphony no. 5, movement IV
performed by Leonard Bernstein the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
I saw this piece performed at
the BBC Proms back when I was about 16. Unfortunately it wasn’t Bernstein and
the New York Phil that day, but it certainly blew me away. Tinged with irony
against the Soviet government; you can almost hear Shostakovich laughing to
himself as those endless high A’s go on and on. The variety of speeds used by
conductors for the end of the finale is astounding. I chose this Bernstein
recording mainly because of the slowing down in tempo right at the end. So
emphatic.
Mahler - Symphony no. 9, movement IV
performed by Sir Roger Norrington the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
(nb. movement IV starts at 54:40 on the video)
The finale of Mahler’s final completed symphony ends in utter tragedy.
As the final chord dies away with the direction “ersterbend” (dying), you can
hear the cataclysmic death Mahler is trying to portray. It couldn’t be further
away from the other emphatic finales listed here, but it still makes my list of
favourites. One of the most emotional pieces of music I have ever listened to,
our Patron does a wonderful job here with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony
orchestra.
Yes, I know, another Shostakovich…I only discovered this last September
and haven’t stopped listening since. Such an exciting finale to what is a rather
solemn, contemplative symphony in the opening two movements. Gergiev takes it
at the quickest tempo I’ve heard here; as a flautist I do feel for them
slightly!
Sibelius - Symphony no. 2, movement IV
performed by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra
As the dramatic climax of the third movement merges into the grandioso
finale, a typically heroic Sibelius theme enters and pure music glory is heard.
As the longest extract shown here, the absolute beauty continues for nearly 15
minutes. It is one of those pieces that you just want to carry on past the end.
The heroic theme returns again right at the end played by emphatic trumpets -
classical music perfection.
Respighi - Roman Festivals, part 4
performed by Vasily Petrenko and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
I only came across this piece last summer at the Proms as part of the
Roman Trilogy (Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome and Roman Festivals). The
finale of this piece is in some ways indescribable. Presented here by the NYO
and Vasily Petrenko, it is absolute pandemonium from start to finish. Just when
you think it’s about to end, suddenly it kicks off in a different direction. An
electrifying piece to see live and an army of percussionists needed.
Tchaikovsky - Act IV, finale
performed by the Royal Swedish Ballet
What do I need to say about this? Dramatic, emphatic and beautiful all
mixed into one.
Stravinsky - Firebird, finale
performed by Valery Gergiev and the Vienna Philharmonic
(nb. finale starts at 41.30)
I really had to include this, didn’t I? This particular recording by
Gergiev and the Vienna Philharmonic is truly something to behold. Gergiev’s
control of those final brass chords is astonishing, they hit you like a wall of
sound. The most special aspect of this particular recording, though, is the
final chord. I’m not sure I knew an orchestra could keep getting louder as they
do here; Gergiev only uses his eyebrows to gesture to the bass drum player to
get louder, I wish I had powerful eyebrows…
So there we have it. I am certain that you will all have
your own preferences and favourites, just as I am sure you will disagree with a
lot of my choices. But that is the wonderful thing about classical music,
everyone has their own opinion on what is “the best”, but there really is
something for everyone. Please do
comment below with your ideas and opinions, it would be great to hear what you
think. Maybe yours will be less biased towards Shostakovich and Mahler…
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