RIP: Claudio Abbado

Sad to learn of his passing - this recording was one of the first that really opened up classical music to the teenage me - and is still one of my favourites. Listened to it Friday night as it happens. 

indeed, Gulda/Abbado is a fine record.

Here's more of my fave. Abbado made an excellent foil for Pollini and Argerich as well.

Sad news indeed. Didn't know he worked with Argerich as well - need to get this! Thanks Kuma.

Arun

A sad day. Nice to hear Radio 3 deliberately playing lots of his recordings last night and again this morning. I was surprised and slightly ashamed to find that I only have one Abbado CD in my collection:

I remember seeing a documentary about 20 years ago which followed him during the start of his tenure as principal conductor of the BPO (wasn't he the first non-Teuton to hold this role?). He came across as a very gentle and kind person; not at all in the bullying mould of Toscanini and others.

Mark

Another of my favoruite Abbado piece is Prokofiev's Lt. Kije.

This is a good story telling.

Arun,

Actually there is another piece they've done together. But I haven't heard this one so not sure how it is.

Just played his Mahler 1, the first CD I ever bought. It still impresses, so slow and measured, and so different in character from Beethoven and Berg with Isabelle Faust.

This video was from 2012 Lucerne Festival. From the gaunt look on his face, it's apparent that the illness has salvaged his health.  Exhausted but it looks as though the music has given him a great deal of strength.

Yes his Mahler no.1 is exceedingly good,

i have a vinyl copy from 1982 which plays superb [even though it's digital].

I only have the Tennstedt and Giulini's Mahler No.1. I'll pick up Abbado set when I get a chance.

I need to get this as well! 

Thank you kindly to all.

Arun

Berliner is offering a Live Webcast

LIVE ON SATURDAY: ZUBIN MEHTA AND RUDOLF BUCHBINDER WITH THE BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER

In memory of Claudio Abbado

Berliner Philharmoniker
Zubin Mehta Conductor
Rudolf Buchbinder Piano

Gustav Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
Anton Webern Six Pieces for orchestra Op. 6b (Reduced version of 1928)
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major “Emperor”
Richard Strauss Ein Heldenleben

In the interval: Zubin Mehta in conversation with Martin Stegner

Live webcast on Sat, 25 Jan, 8 p.m. (Berlin time)
> New York: 2 p.m.   > Tokyo: Sun, 26 Jan, 4 a.m.

Unfortunately I am going to miss this gig.

In addition, Berliner Philharmoniker is offering the following digital concert for free Until further notice.

European Concert 1991 from Prague
European Concert 1994 from Meiningen
The Berliner Philharmoniker in Tokyo
European Concert 1996 from St. Petersburg
New Year’s Eve Concert 1996 »Dances and Gypsy Tunes«
Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
New Year’s Eve Concert 1997 »Tribute to Carmen«
European Concert 1998 from Stockholm
New Year’s Eve Concert 1998 »Songs of Love and Desire«
W.A. Mozart: Requiem. Herbert von Karajan Memorial Concert
New Year’s Eve Concert 1999 »Grand Finales«
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1–8
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (European Concert 2000 from Berlin)
New Year’s Eve Concert 2000 »Viva Verdi«
Beethoven: Chorfantasie / Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2
European Concert 2002 from Palermo
Documentary »The silence that follows the music«

The last documentary is particularly good to get to know Abbado better.

Check out their website.

One more cool pix of young  Abbado and Argerich from the past.

Hard to believe that almost half a century is gone since this shot was taken.

Claudio Abbado was a truly great conductor who wouldn't compromise - for instance he once refused to allow DG to issue a selection of slow movements, taken from his individual Mahler symphony recordings, on one CD - great credit to him, above commercial considerations.  His performances, especially in latter years, had an extra dimension difficult to explain but truly moving.  I particularly enjoyed his Mahler symphonies, earlier fine recordings include magnificent Verdi Macbeth and Simon Boccanegra, a very fine set of Schubert symphonies, his most recent performances of Mozart symphonies and concerti with his Orchestra Mozart are also very special. He will be greatly missed.