CLAUDIO ABBADO: THE SYMPHONY EDITION (41 CDS)

In more recent years, every Abbado recording has been an event, something special – whether his Mahler symphonies with Berlin, or the Mozart, Bach and Pergolesi projects with “his” Orchestra Mozart. And, of course, as a sponsor and champion of new orchestras he is unrivalled – not least with his most recent creations, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the Orchestra Mozart.

THE SYMPHONY EDITION – OVERVIEW

His Grand-Old-Man status assured Abbado remains a modest, unassuming but tenaciously demanding orchestral leader. Now, to celebrate the maestro’s reaching his 80th year, we have prepared an ambitious Symphony Edition as a birthday tribute:

• Limited-edition 41-CD box set

• Complete recordings of Abbado's recordings of eight great symphonists – Mozart (with Orchestra Mozart), Haydn, Beethoven (with Berliner Philharmoniker), Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruckner and Mahler (with Berliner Phliharmoniker and Lucerne festival Orchestra)

• Featuring seven of the orchestras with whom Abbado is most closely associated (Orchestra Mozart, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, London Symphony, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Lucerne Festival Orchestra)

• Complete symphonic cycles of Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Mahler (see attachment for complete track list).

• All recordings have been personally selected by Claudio Abbado

IN PARTICULAR…

• Bruckner’s First Symphony – a special “addition”: at Abbado’s request, we have licensed a live recording of Bruckner’s First Symphony with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, being released here for the first time anywhere.

• He had previously recorded the first version (the “Linz” version, 1866) of the Symphony with the Wiener Philharmoniker, but has since discovered and championed the later expanded “Vienna” version (carried out by Bruckner in 1890–91) – a not uncontroversial step!

• Is this such a big deal? Anyone who has heard performances of the symphony that Abbado has given with the orchestra on tour in recent months will know that this is an electrifying account, one that changes the way we should regard the work. It’s the first CD to go for in the Edition (and will be offered as advance music)!

• In sum, a superb addition to the Symphony Edition, and to Abbado’s discogaphy (also to be released in a separate Bruckner box later).

• Parallel to this Edition, Decca is releasing a 7-CD set of the early Abbado recordings on Decca

PACKAGING

• The attractive cube features four striking, dynamic portraits of Abbado from the 1970s to the present day.

• The 96-page four-language booklet has an interview with Abbado by journalist Julia Spinola (formerly of the Frankfürter Allgemeine) plus many photos.

Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A major, K201
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B flat major, K319
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D major, K385 'Haffner'
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D major, K504 'Prague'
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K543
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551 'Jupiter'
Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9
Karita Mattila (soprano), Violeta Urmana (mezzo), Thomas Moser (tenor), Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone)
Berliner Philharmoniker; Eric Ericsson Chamber Choir, Swedish Radio Choir
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Mahler: Symphonies 1-9
Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 1 and 3-9), Lucerne Festival Orchestra (No. 2)
Claudio Abbado

Bruckner: Symphony No. 1 in C minor
Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major 'Romantic'
Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major
Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major
Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor
Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53
Marjana Lipovsek (contralto)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Ernst-Senff-Chor
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Nänie von Friedrich Schiller, für Chor und Orchester, Op. 82
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a 'St Anthony Variations'
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Brahms: Serenade No. 2 in A Major, Op. 16
Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado

Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-9
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Schubert: Rosamunde: excerpts
Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Ernst-Senff-Chor
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Il mondo della luna Overture
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 93 in D major
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 96 in D major 'Miracle'
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 98 in B flat major
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 100 in G major 'Military'
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 101 in D major 'The Clock'
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 102 in B flat major
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Symphony No. 103 in E flat major 'Drum Roll'
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major, Op. 84, Hob. I / 105
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1-5
Elizabeth Connell (soprano I), Karita Mattila (soprano II), Hans-Peter Blochwitz (tenor)
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Op. 21
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: The Fair Melusine Overture, Op. 32
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas Overture, Op. 95
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 27
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

Mendelssohn: Trumpet - Overture Op. 101
London Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado