Awesome Classical Music Performances

[Shamshir]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y41DykcpgRg

Zubin Mehta conducting a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee... gotta love the orchestra moving in sync with each other. The flautist is insanely good!

[Shamshir]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B49N46I39Y&feature=related

Eiji Oue conducting Holst's Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity. I love the way he conducts, especially during the slow movement. You can tell he's really feeling it! Long live the Celesta!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NeQ1h6lzLI&feature=related

Of course, now that we mention Holst, we gotta mention Mars, the Bringer of War too. I believe the conductor is Seiji Ozawa. Check out that awe-inspiring, gigantic organ in the back! Watch from 7:55 to 8:15 for the guy playing it! Egads!
This is a slower, more intense version of Mars.

[Shamshir]

Here's two differing version of Bach's Cello Suite No.1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_QR_FTt3E

The first one is Mstislav Rostropovich playing it on his Duport Stradivarius Cello. Many have a love/hate relationship with Rostropovich since he played at a faster tempo than most cellist. I find it to be quite charming and possibly the best version out there. There is definite passion and fire coming from Slava, RIP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZn_VBgkPNY&feature=related

This one is Yo-Yo Ma, who's approach is more introspective and methodical, yet sometimes brooding. I believe that's the DuPre Stradivarius he plays on.

EDIT: I'll throw in the famous Casals recordings, they caused quite the stir when they came out (not a favorite of mine though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhcjeZ3o5us&NR=1

[Shamshir]

We now move on to the most famous symphony of them all, Beethoven's 9th. Herbert von Karajan was a titan amongst conductors, and his most famous performances include Beethoven's Symphonies (many regard his 1963 cycle as the ultimate recording!). He would go on to release 4 complete cycles. Here he is conducting the most famous symphony ever conceived, Beethoven's 9th ("An die Freude").

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2AEaQJuKDY = Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSEqQsAXbJw&feature=related = Part 2

The only caveat with this performance is that it's not performed in front of a live audience, which seem to take something out of the performance.

[Shamshir]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imv2M64t_og

This one is Bernstein's performance of Beethoven's 9th. Unfortunately, I could only find the 4th movement, it seems they have not upped the other 3 movements. This was one of the more famous live performances of the symphony, as it occurred shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall (it was performed in Berlin) and as such Bernstein replaced the word "Freude" with "Freiheit" in Schiller's poem (Ode to Freedom!). Bernstein is a joy to watch conducting, during some of the more bombastic movements you can see him leap into the air. He sings along with the chorus too. He would die shortly after this performance. Follow the links to get the other parts of the 4th movement.