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VERDI
Verdi: Rarities (recorded 1978 & 1980) Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) / Orchestra del Teatro Alla Scala, Claudio Abbado [ Sony Singers / CD - released 10/Aug/2013 ] Reissue of the classic recordings Pavarotti made of some of the more unusual Verdi repertoire. Includes one of the few recordings of the original 'Aida' Overture - all 11 minutes of it! |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Alto Rhapsody / Symphony no 2 Marjana Lipovsek (alto) / Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] "How pleasant it is to be able to welcome a new recording of a Brahms symphony. The sessions took place before the BPO elected Abbado as their Chief Conductor, but the orchestra responds with unmistakable enthusiasm to the Italian conductor" Gramopho |
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FREDERIC CHOPIN / FRANZ LISZT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1 / Liszt: Piano Concerto No 1 Martha Argerich (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 5/May/2000 ] "This is early vintage Argerich but the sound has transferred well to CD. She is balanced rather noticeably forward...Much of the outer Chopin movements is taken remarkably fast, yet a crystalline clarity is maintained." Gramophone |
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ROBERT SCHUMANN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Schumann; Piano Concerto. Op. 54 / Konzertstuck, Op. 92 & Op. 134 Murray perahia (piano / Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado [ Sony Classics / CD - released 2/Feb/1997 ] Often described as "a musician's musician", Murray Perahia "has a magic touch and his electric spontaneity is naturally caught in the studio," wrote the Penguin Guide. "In the works of Schumann … this quality of concentration is enormously valuable,... |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Roberto Alagna - Verdi Arias Roberto Alagna (tenor) / The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ EMI Music / CD - released 1/Dec/1998 ] "In answer to all those nay-sayers concerning Alagna's talents, the tenor here shows, in the most demanding programme imaginable, that there is little if anything wrong with his technique and a great deal right with his sense of Verdian style" Gramop |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Aida (Complete opera) Ruggero Raimondi, Elena Obraztsova, Katia Ricciarelli, Placido Domingo, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera House / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2005 ] 'None is better or more thoroughly and thoughtfully conducted - and in Verdi, that is of the essence.' Gramophone |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Brahms: Symphony No. 4 / Haydn-Variations / Nanie Rundfunkchor Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Nov/2008 ] ".Haydn Variations is more searching, more illuminating than any other modern version I know. Each variation is richly characterized-the fifth, for example, is delivered in a tough, insistent fashion, while the sixth has a graceful, wistful quality." |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Symphony No 1 / Gesang der Parzen Rundfunkchor Berlin / Berliner Philharmoniker / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Oct/2006 ] "After a spacious introduction, Abbado launches into a warm, dramatic reading, rhythmically well sprung and finely shaded, with the full power of the great climaxes broughtout in the finale, from the rapt pianissimo of the opening onwards." |
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GLUCK / STRAVINSKY / PURCELL / PUCCINI / MOZART / ARLEN / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Sylvia McNair - A Portrait Sylvia McNair (soprano) with conductors, Claudio Abbado, John Eliot Gardiner, Christopher Hogwood, Neville Marriner, etc [ Philips / CD - released 20/Sep/1996 ] Recordings from 1991 to 1995 |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola (complete opera.recorded in 1981) Teatro alla Scala / Frederica von Stade, Margherita Guglielmi, Laura Zannini, Francisco Araiza, Claudio Desderi, Paolo Montarsolo / Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / Unitel DVD / DVD - released 8/Nov/2005 ] Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's staging of this classic fairy tale, originally created for the San Francisco Opera in 1969, has been one of the most successful opera stagings of the 20th century |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Barber of Seville, The [Il barbiere di Siviglia] complete studio recording of the opera recorded in 1972 Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Hermann Prey, Enzo Dara / Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon DVD / DVD - released 21/Jun/2005 ] In the 1970s, the era from which this production emanates, the director Jean Pierre Ponnelle was reaching the height of his powers. In his 1972 production at Milan's La Scala, Ponnelle designed a realistic set that still feels fresh. |
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GIOACHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: La Cenerentola [Cinderella] (complete opera recorded in 1972) Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Renato Capecchi, Paolo Montarsolo / Scottish Opera Chorus / London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon Opera House / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/2013 ] "One of the great classic opera recordings of a work that balances farce with touching romance." (BBC Music) |
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GYORGY LIGETI
Ligeti: Atmospheres Gerd Zacher (organ) / Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado / Chor des Norddeutschen Rundfunks / Ensemble Intercontemporain [ Deutsche Grammophon 20th Century / CD - released 5/Nov/2012 ] "Atmospheres is an amazing piece, which defines huge clusters as a compositional technique. It's not an experiment but a superbly realized masterpiece." Steve Reich |
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ANTON BRUCKNER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bruckner: Symphony No.4 'Romantic' Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD Box Set - released 28/Jul/2014 ] "Abbado's is quite the finest of the recent Bruckner Fourths on record. Like his magisterial and perspicacious recent recording of Brahms's Third Symphony...it shows a combination of musical shrewdness and emotional abandon" Gramophone |
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GUSTAV MAHLER
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 (with Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3) [recorded in 2009] Yuja Wang (piano) / Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Euroarts DVD / DVD - released 20/Jul/2010 ] "Every visual detail caught by the eye becomes woven into the aural tapestry of Mahler's First Symphony. The tension is high from the beginning as spring rustles into life. Abbado carefully paces each surge in energy, each mood transformation. Every... |
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BEETHOVEN
Symphony No.9 Karita Mattila, Violeta Urmana, Thomas Moser, Thomas Quasthoff / Eric-Ericson-Kammerchor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 11/Mar/2002 ] |
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JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Symphonies, Serenades and Overtures Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, with Marjana Lipovsek (contralto) [ Deutsche Grammophon / 5 CD Box Set - released 25/Jul/2014 ] The 5 CD BRAHMS box of Symphonies, Serenades and Overtures, is generally recognized as containing the best modern recordings of his symphonic oeuvre. "Brahms would be the top of my Abbado picks," critic Martin Kettle has written, "partly but not only... |
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PYOTR Il'yich TCHAIKOVSKY
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture / The Tempest, Op. 18 / Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture / Marche slave, Op. 31 Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Aug/2010 ] "The brilliant, full-blooded recording is excellent, only just short of demonstration standard" (Gramophone 2000) |
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HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Te Deum Op. 22 Francisco Araizo (tenor) / London Symphony Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, European Community Youth Orchestra, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 10/Aug/2010 ] |
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W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 (complete) Alessio Allegrini (horn) / Orchestra Mozart, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 1/Mar/2012 ] " In tune with Claudio Abbado's bracing "new-old" approach to Mozart - sparing use of string vibrato, astringent, wind-dominated textures - Allegrini's slightly rougher-edged way with this famous music could hardly be less like Brain's suave... |