Claudio Abbado, RIP (1933-2014)

Cafe Society
#1

I know there aren’t many posters to this board who are knowledgeable or enthusiastic about Classical Music, but among those that are, I’m sure you all recognize what an enormous loss to the world of music Abbado’s passing brings.

I’ve been a fan of Abbado’s conducting as long as I’ve been listening to music.

Among numerous great recordings Abbado has given us, I’ll leave here this superb rendition of the Adagietto (movement IV) from Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYjRI1LC-X0

#2

Here’s the NY Times obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/arts/music/claudio-abbado-italian-conductor-dies-at-80.html?ref=arts&_r=0

#3

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 (Audio only)

Here’s a link to hear Abbado conducting the Chicago Symphony in one of my favorite pieces, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

#4

Abbado’s Tchaikovsky is marvelous!

ETA: This boxed set remains one of the great recorded sets of Tchaikovsky’s complete symphonies. Good price, too!

#5

What an amazing legacy he leaves behind. For my tastes, he had absolutely the best interpretation of Berg and Schönberg of any conductor - the feel of Brahms or Mahler with an extended melodic and harmonic palette. Exquisite!

And his Brahms and Mahler recordings were wonderful, too!

#6

Totally agree.

#7

When I was a kid, there were only two conductors whose name I knew. Abbado was one. The other was Karajan.

#8

As a tribute, the Berlin Philharmonic has made all of Claudio Abbado’s concerts free to view. There’s an article (with a link) at this link.

Well, I know what I’m doing online for the next little while…

#9

Awesome!