winterone001 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Karajan is so perfect a conductor, his energy so completely fused with the energy of the music.. When Beethoven would conduct, the People criticized him for his inability to remain within the confines of convention and conduct like the mechanized robotic conductors of the time... the passion of his music would exit his whole being, not just the baton. He is the man who freed music..

theodyssey12 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

karajan is the best conductor i have seen thus far

teccomin (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

this is one of those "I CAN DIE NOW" pieces... after the end i just think that nothing in life is going to bring me more joy that i might as well go and die already

abrelosojo (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

i consider it romantic because1. its program music (birds and storm etc)2. the 4th movment- which clearly is miles from classical3. the repetitive form of the movements4. generaly intense5. and its post 5th, and i consider the 5th to be the first romantic peice ever writtenthe otherhepcat is right to say he was an oddity (so maybe its a pointless discusion) but i disagree on 5th instead of 3rd

GuyMontagSmash (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

this piece couldn't be more romantic all you have to do is listen not look at dates

peterrabbit1999 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

ashweirdoYou're correct, it is classical. This piece was written between 1800-1810. Thats when the classical period was still there.

dt10825 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Beautiful. the filming is amazing! captures the pure greatness of a symphony orchestra and of Karajan. goes great with pastoral.

theotherhepcat (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

If the music has an accompanying program or is meant to describe a setting of sorts (as in the case of the "Pastoral Symphony") odds are it is considered Romantic.

theotherhepcat (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

That is where you are incorrect Ms Ash. Beethoven is an oddity in that he is such a pivotal figure in music straddling the Classical & Romantic Periods. That being said, Beethoven's 3rd Symphony (Eroica) is considered the beginning of the Romantic Period in music.One factor to look at in discerning whether a piece of music from the early 19th century is considered Classical or Romantic is whether the music is Programmatic or Descriptive.

ashweirdo (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

No it`s not, it`s classical. Only Beethoven`s late works were considered to be Romantic pieces... i.e. Symphony 9, String quartets 12+