Immerse yourself in the timeless brilliance of classical music with Claudio Abbado's extraordinary compilation, "Abbado A-Z: Vivaldi - Wagner + Galas & Recitals." This remarkable album, released on May 5, 2023, under the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label, offers a captivating journey through the works of two titans of classical music: Antonio Vivaldi and Richard Wagner.
Spanning a generous five hours, this collection showcases Abbado's unparalleled mastery and deep affinity for these composers. The album begins with Vivaldi's iconic "The Four Seasons," a set of four violin concertos that vividly depict the changing seasons. Each concerto is a masterpiece in its own right, filled with vivid imagery and emotional depth. Abbado's interpretation brings out the intricate details and dynamic contrasts, making this a standout performance.
The second half of the album is dedicated to Wagner's operatic genius. Abbado conducts some of Wagner's most celebrated works, including overtures, preludes, and excerpts from "Tannhäuser," "Parsifal," "Tristan und Isolde," "Der fliegende Holländer," "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg," and "Lohengrin." These selections highlight Wagner's innovative use of leitmotifs and his ability to create sweeping, dramatic narratives through music. Abbado's nuanced approach and the orchestra's precise execution make these performances unforgettable.
The album also includes live recordings from Philharmonie, Berlin, adding an extra layer of authenticity and energy to the performances. Whether you're a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer looking to explore the genre, this album offers a rich and rewarding listening experience. Claudio Abbado's profound understanding of these works, combined with his impeccable conducting, makes this a collection that will be cherished by all who appreciate the beauty and power of classical music.
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8/1, RV 269 "Spring": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8/1, RV 269 "Spring": II. Largo e pianissimo sempreAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8/1, RV 269 "Spring": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8/2, RV 315 "Summer": I. Allegro non molto - AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8/2, RV 315 "Summer": II. Adagio e piano - Presto e forteAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8/2, RV 315 "Summer": III. PrestoAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8/3, RV 293 "Autumn": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8/3, RV 293 "Autumn": II. Adagio moltoAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8/3, RV 293 "Autumn": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8/4, RV 297 "Winter": I. Allegro non molto - AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8/4, RV 297 "Winter": II. LargoAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8/4, RV 297 "Winter": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
Concerto in G Minor, RV 577 "Per l'Orchestra di Dresda": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Marieke Blankestijn, Douglas Boyd, Matthew Wilkie, Christoph Marks, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
Concerto in G Minor, RV 577 "Per l'Orchestra di Dresda": II. Largo non moltoAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Marieke Blankestijn, Douglas Boyd, Matthew Wilkie, Christoph Marks, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
Concerto in G Minor, RV 577 "Per l'Orchestra di Dresda": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Viktoria Mullova, Marieke Blankestijn, Douglas Boyd, Matthew Wilkie, Christoph Marks, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8/1, RV 269 "Spring": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8/1, RV 269 "Spring": II. Largo e pianissimo sempreAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8/1, RV 269 "Spring": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8/2, RV 315 "Summer": I. Allegro non molto - AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8/2, RV 315 "Summer": II. Adagio e piano - Presto e forteAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Summer, Violin Concerto in G Minor, RV 315, Op. 8 No. 2: III. PrestoAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8/3, RV 293 "Autumn": I. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8/3, RV 293 "Autumn": II. Adagio moltoAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8/3, RV 293 "Autumn": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8/4, RV 297 "Winter": I. Allegro non molto - AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8/4, RV 297 "Winter": II. LargoAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8/4, RV 297 "Winter": III. AllegroAntonio Vivaldi, Gidon Kremer, Leslie Pearson, London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Tannhäuser, WWV 70: OvertureRichard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Parsifal, WWV 111: PreludeRichard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Parsifal, WWV 111, Act III Suite (Ed. Abbado): Karfreitagszauber "Good Friday Music"Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Parsifal, WWV 111, Act III Suite (Ed. Abbado): Verwandlungsmusik "Transformation Music"Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Parsifal, WWV 111, Act III Suite (Ed. Abbado): Procession. RitterzugRichard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Swedish Radio Choir, Simon Halsey
Parsifal, WWV 111, Act III Suite (Ed. Abbado): Final Chorus. SchlusschorRichard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Swedish Radio Choir, Simon Halsey
Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90, Act I: PreludeRichard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90, Act III: Liebestod (Concert Version)Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63: OvertureRichard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Der fliegende Holländer, Act I: Die Frist ist um – Wie oft in Meeres tiefsten Schlund (Concert Version)Richard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96, Act III: Wahn! Wahn! Überall Wahn!Richard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96, Act II: Was duftet doch der FliederRichard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Tannhäuser, WWV 70, Act III: Wie Todesahnung - O du mein holder Abendstern "Oh Star of Eve"Richard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Parsifal, WWV 111, Act I: Nein! Lasst ihn unenthülltRichard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Parsifal, WWV 111, Act III: Ja, Wehe! Weh' über mich!Richard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Die Walküre, Act III Scene 3: Leb wohl – Loge hör! "Wotan's Farewell & Magic Fire Music"Richard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Tannhäuser, WWV 70: Overture - Concert Version, Live at Philharmonie, Berlin, 1993Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Tannhäuser, WWV 70, Act II: Dich, teure Halle, grüß ich wiederRichard Wagner, Cheryl Studer, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Tannhäuser, WWV 70, Act III: Wie Todesahnung - O du mein holder Abendstern "Oh Star of Eve"Richard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Lohengrin, WWV 75, Act II Scene 2: Duet. In ferner Einsamkeit des Waldes - Um Gott, was klagest du mich anRichard Wagner, Cheryl Studer, Waltraud Meier, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96: Overture (Prelude)Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96, Act II: Was duftet doch der FliederRichard Wagner, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Die Walküre, WWV 86B, Act I: Dich selige Frau - Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond ... Siegmund, den WälsungRichard Wagner, Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
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