One of this page’s followers, Jim Barclay Jr, has introduced to me the idea of Historical YouTube. This magical – though unfortunately wholly fictional – website would allow one to watch videos captured during any era of music history.

The concept was introduced in the comments section under last week’s Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf birthday post, where Jim remarked it would be near the top of his personal list to be able to witness an actual performance by the string quartet made up of Dittersdorf, Joseph Haydn, Mozart, and Jan Křtitel Vaňhal. He then added a piano recital by Chopin or Liszt.

I too would be eager to hear Liszt. I expanded the roster to include the premiere of “The Rite of Spring,” notorious for having sparked one of classical music’s greatest riots.

Simon Mauer offered the legendary December 1808 marathon that introduced not only Beethoven’s 5th & 6th Symphonies, but also the 4th Piano Concerto, the Choral Fantasy, selections from the Mass in C, and more – an endurance test that left teeth chattering over a span of over four hours.

It was not long after that Jim added a Schubertiade, one of those informal literary-musical salons at which a number of Schubert’s works were first heard. This was eagerly seconded by Simon.

It was then suggested this might be a good idea for an expanded post – a contest, of sorts. So now I’m throwing it open to all of you. What storied classical music events would you most want to see on Historical YouTube™?