And the Waltz Goes On

May 15, 2014 6:38 AM

50 years ago Anthony Hopkins wrote a piece of music titled 'And the waltz goes on'. Watch him hear it played for the first time. [SLYT].
posted by pjern (24 comments total)

Hunh. When I read this, I assumed it was a modern composer I didn't know who happened to have the same name as the actor. Actually, it is the actor I knew who happened to be a composer.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:45 AM on May 15, 2014

Is the audience behavior normal for a concert like this? They seem a little too ... enthusiastic. Almost like plants or something. I found it disturbingly odd.
posted by dobbs at 6:48 AM on May 15, 2014 [2 favorites]

My impression is the Johann Strauss Orchestra is supposed to be one of those "cool" classical music things that project themselves as "like a rock concert, but with classical music!"
posted by kmz at 6:52 AM on May 15, 2014

The audience behaviour is normal for concerts like these. André Rieu plays very accessible classical music for a wide audience. You can compare it to the Proms in the UK.
posted by Berend at 6:53 AM on May 15, 2014

Surprised to not see anyone actually waltzing!
posted by DesbaratsDays at 6:56 AM on May 15, 2014

this isn't actually the first time sir anthony hopkins heard it performed - this was the premiere of the concert series. here is some more background. i can't find it now, but i swear there's pictures or video from when it was performed in vienna previously.
posted by nadawi at 6:56 AM on May 15, 2014

It's really lovely. And I got up and danced around while it was playing.
posted by orange swan at 7:03 AM on May 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

My impression is the Johann Strauss Orchestra is supposed to be one of those "cool" classical music things that project themselves as "like a rock concert, but with classical music!"

See also: the history of the Boston Pops
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:30 AM on May 15, 2014

A really beautiful piece of music... But, here's the spooky part.

I switched off "Silence of the Lambs" (at one of the more, ah, gory points of the movie) 30 seconds prior to finding this post. It was pretty much impossible to make that mental transition, I wanted to tell that woman that kissed him that she was making a HUGE mistake!
posted by HuronBob at 7:35 AM on May 15, 2014 [4 favorites]

Hunh. When I read this, I assumed it was a modern composer I didn't know who happened to have the same name as the actor. Actually, it is the actor I knew who happened to be a composer.

The possible unconscious source of the confusion I experienced: there was an English composer named Antony Hopkins, who died just over a week ago. So:

.

I guess.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:36 AM on May 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

I wonder if it sounded so cinematic in the original composition, or if that's a function of the arrangement for this orchestra? It sounds like it should be backing some grand, sweeping tracking shot.
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:37 AM on May 15, 2014

It's quite lovely. To me, it evokes the grand sweep of a life's time. As with most things that manage to communicate emotionally about the totality of existence, hearing this piece makes me weepy.

Also, who puts a calliope in an orchestra? Awesome people, that's who.
posted by Appropriate Username at 7:38 AM on May 15, 2014 [3 favorites]

Also, who puts a calliope in an orchestra? Awesome people, that's who.


Thinking your answer was going to be completely different, this comment made me feel a whole range of emotions -- from anger to relief. It'd be so embarrassing to get a MetaFilter timeout because I attacked somebody for mocking a calliope.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:43 AM on May 15, 2014 [5 favorites]

That was just... amazing. Astonishingly good.

HOW WAS IT NOT THE THEME MUSIC FOR SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 7:52 AM on May 15, 2014 [4 favorites]

My impression is the Johann Strauss Orchestra is supposed to be one of those "cool" classical music things that project themselves as "like a rock concert, but with classical music!"

All concerts were rock concerts until classical music became the domain of stuffy old rich people.
posted by mhoye at 7:56 AM on May 15, 2014 [4 favorites]

(Not that Williams or whoever composed the music for Silence didn't do a bang-up job, but this could at least have played over the closing credits. Or could have been the music Lecter was listening to in his cell in Tennessee, or something)
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 7:58 AM on May 15, 2014

There is an interview with Sir Hopkins about it, which I thought was very interesting. It also confirms nadawi's assertion that this particular video was not the first time it was performed, that was in Vienna. They show a clip from that performance during the interview.

It really is a lovely piece of music, and the video in the OP is a fun performance of it.
posted by gemmy at 8:05 AM on May 15, 2014 [1 favorite]

ah-ha! i knew i had seen a clip from vienna! and i do so love this piece of music and this performance of it.
posted by nadawi at 8:06 AM on May 15, 2014

Dude, love your waltz, very evocative. But you're in a concert hall, so take off your friggin' hat already.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:09 AM on May 15, 2014 [3 favorites]

Also, those ballgowns. Nice touch.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:12 AM on May 15, 2014

I'm not a particular fan of this spectrum of music, but I have been to an Andre Rieu show and it's definitely all people getting misty-eyed and popping up occasionally to waltz to the BIG HITS and it's also a super good time. It's pretty saccharine, but he tells tons of jokes between pieces and keeps it way more lively than you might expect.
posted by SharkParty at 8:53 AM on May 15, 2014

Heh, I was thinking the same thing for a minute FelliniBlack, but then noticed it was open air.
posted by ZaneJ. at 11:05 AM on May 15, 2014

From the opening shots, I was hoping the orchestra was an all-ball-gown thing - men included. It worked on Conchita Wurst, and she's Austrian! The white tie on the men was so disappointing. Orchestras as flocks of penguins/nuns/undertakers are dreary.
posted by Dreidl at 12:37 PM on May 15, 2014

Ladies who play cello-strapless might not be the best choice. Unless you want me to think you're naked. Maybe you do!
posted by atomicstone at 1:02 PM on May 15, 2014