Review: The BEST Abbado Big Box (At Last)

[@JesusGonzalez-ky8im]

My favorite part of each video is when David starts to sing. I wanted to wait for this box because I just got Abbado’s Opera one. But thanks to David (who introduced me to Mahler!) just clicked on this box. Thanks David.

[@douglashuntington408]

Got it delivered today from the UK based on your recommendation. I’m going to dig in dude

[@markgibson6654]

Thanks for this one David. For me the Tod und Verklarung (sp?) is one of my favorite recordings, and one of the most deeply moving. I first heard it on the radio a couple of decades ago. The experience stayed with me I and was thrilled to discover it on youtube. Glad to know it is available as a disc.

[@iainmacdonald8379]

Abbado was the first conductor I ever saw live. It was 1998, I was 18 and I had a been listening to classical music for years on CD but never live because I'm from a small town. I wandered past the Usher Hall one evening, shortly after moving to Edinburgh, and spotted a guy with a ticket going spare. He gave it to me for free and I watched Abbado conduct Beethoven's 9th with the Berlin Phil. I could've had a worse introduction.

[@ralphbruce1174]

As a music lover, I already have most of them. But, sure I will take a look, if I can find stuff I do not have. My deception,is that we do not have the original lp or cd cover pictures

[@barrygray8903]

Yessss! This box really does preserve the best of Abbado, and we own the Mussorgsky-Ravel/Pictures, Ravel/Bolero, and all of the Stravinsky items. I recall initially getting the LP of the Mussorgsky and not expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the unbuttoned contributions of the LSO brass. Now one of my favorite recordings of this warhorse ( better than his slick BPO remake). This may sound contrived, but when I saw the initial release of the Abbado/LSO Mozart symphonies 40 & 41 I was tempted to buy but some voice or instinct told me to stay away. I did and, thanks to your review, it seems it was the right call.Thank you.

[@dizwell]

Thanks for the score tour! Appreciated :)

[@jimryon1002]

I practicably lived at Record masters back in the 70s and 80s. They knew me when I came in the door.

[@murraylow4523]

Result, Dave! Well done :) I'm not sure I'd buy it because I have the Mendelssohn, some of the Prokofiev, Stravinsky etc anyhow. *But* its good DG (Universal) filled the big hole in their Abbado box scenario.... Listening to "Building a Library" the other week, its clear that his "Pulcinella" here. for example, really hasn't been bettered after all that time (which is slightly odd, actually?) He obvs did love that italian early classical thing, but maybe doing it via Stravinsky produced the best results.

[@randywolfgang4943]

I feel much the same way about all of his opera recordings that you feel about his Carmen. Beautifully played and the dramatic gestures are there but something is missing. Some inner pulse or feeling isn’t there. I enjoy hearing his Macbeth for instance and its a great reference set// then I go right back to Muti who has that special something Abbado doesn’t have

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Faster tempos...

[@jorgereynosopholenz2865]

Bad thing that the Mussorgsky-Abbado-LSO record made for RCA could not be included in the box.

[@bradwilkins9347]

Maybe now DG will act on your request for an Orpheus Chamber Orchestra box. One can hope...

[@Phil-di8dh]

Due for release on 3rd Jul 2021 if Presto Classical is to be believed

[@MrEdmundHarris]

Excellent news! I'd buy that.

[@Phil-di8dh]

@@MrEdmundHarris It's going to be an expensive year for me. As well as the Orpheus box from DG, Warner are releasing their entire Previn catalogue as well as Muti's complete symphonic output, Best of the lot is Eugene Ormandy's recordings from Columbia. A release to cherish indeed and no doubt a future video review by Dave.

[@dmntuba]

Much agreed the the LSO years were his best output. When I was a college music student my friends and I use to snap this recording up👍

[@thomasbecker9449]

I really love the Debussy he recorded with the LSO and I cannot agree with you more about the Ravel cycle in London. I have listened to all these individual Ravel albums so many times.

[@JPFalcononor]

I pre ordered The Eugene Ormandy Columbia Legacy Edition and cannot wait to listen to the many unreleased CD recordings that are within...

[@morrigambist]

Abbado's surprising "Magic Flute" proves your point about his accompanying - the music sounds newly-minted. Quite an accomplishment!

[@psono429]

Bravo I sure will ! minus the bow wows! a few anyway! I also have a Strauss Tone Poems disc? Abbado Any thoughts? on that one?

[@barryguerrero7652]

Dave, DG issued Abbado's first Brahms cycle on vinyl. It used four different orchestras: Berlin Phil., Vienna Phil., Dresden Staatskapelle (#3) and the L.S.O. (#4). It never came out as a cycle on CD.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks--I had forgotten all about it!

[@thebruckler3707]

I picked that DG box up a few days ago on LP, I love classical on LP because it seems to be the only genre in the vinyl format that doesn't double in price every year!

[@carlosshosta9040]

I share that enthusiasm.

[@francoisjoubert6867]

The Mozart 40 and 41 was my very first CD! Haven’t listened to it in years.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yech!

[@bradwilkins9347]

You must have got an advanced copy. Amazon says I won't receive mine until at least March 31st. I can't wait. I'm bummed that the box does not include the original jackets. That's one of the reasons I am so excited about the upcoming Ormandy box (already on order). Of course, I'm being nitpicky about something that has vey little to do with the music. It just helps with the nostalgia.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Actually I bought from Presto. Release dates are generally earlier in Europe.

[@alanmcginn4796]

Amazon has it for $111 plus tax. Ships from Amazon uk. I ordered my box this morning. Ormandy box on order also.

[@benjamingreenfield9569]

When I was very young in the early 1990's, my dad would take my sister and me to the Baltimore zoo in the morning and take us to the rotunda after, and we'd go to record masters (by that point it was all CD's) with the promise of Pizza in the food court after he was done. Many many memories running around there. I love that Mendelssohn cycle. He makes a great case for the Lobesgesang which is one of the great works that no one ever does. I love the carmen recording and the Rossini opera recordings. That's a great point you make about Abbado the accompanist, he's like Mehta where he brought out the best in his partners as a collaborator....hence so many reissusings of the Argerich Chopin concertos. Fantastic that there are great Tchaikovsky symphonies in this, that Chicago set has very good performances but is marred by disgraceful engineering. Such a great box. Glad they finally put it out.

[@classicalperformances8777]

Do you have a theory as to why his Lso time produced the best of his interpretation given how great the berliner sound was back in the day?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

There are many, but the theory goes that he replaced many players in Berlin and so changed the way the orchestra sounded under Karajan. As for the LSO, he was younger and simply didn't screw around with them as much as he did with Berlin.

[@markdecker2112]

Dave, DG just announced today a rather expensive ($1K USD) complete set of Abbado today. As i was researching that set, I noticed this video and purchased the Abbado / London Symphony set since that was half price at Amazon (100 bucks is a rather steal for the number of discs). Is there a wealth of incremental value in the complete Abbado set that I would be missing out on, or is this London set really the only one to worry about? Thanks for all the videos.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No. You're fine as it is.

[@magnuskrook39]

Speaking of boxes, I hope Decca will issue a complete Solti/LPO.

[@jedidog3615]

I am a big fan of Brahms’ Rinaldo. 😬😅 And considering that JAMES KING sings the title role, this is a must ‘get’ for me.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Fair enough!

[@Heb.2000]

“He went insane” LOL

[@AlexMadorsky]

Oooooh baby! This sounds like one of the best, most consistent maestro boxes yet. I rarely listen to Abbado, but that’s happenstance rather than a concerted avoidance strategy. Maybe I’ll dive into the deep end and pick this impressive set up. I’m happy to skip and Classical era works which might show up in there.

[@jefolson6989]

I also paid little attention to Abbado until I saw the videos with the Lucerne festival orchestra- his last and most profound work.

[@magnuskrook39]

Will be put on the shopping list. I also hope DG will get off their collective ass and issue a complete Igor Markevitch too.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Australian Eloquence has it coming later this year--two sets--one DG and one Philips

[@magnuskrook39]

@@DavesClassicalGuide That is certainly good news. There are obviously some good people on the staff of Eloquence.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Your influence or a happy coincidence?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Coincidence I'm sure.

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

Ahahahahah...I was looking forward to..

[@ahartify]

I love your channel, but I can't agree with you about Abbado's Mahler. He can be expressive, and his conducting isn't all Italianate grace and light. I can't see how you can dislike his work with The Lucerne Festival Orchestra.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks for commenting. I dislike it because I know my Mahler and I know great playing and this is neither great Mahler nor great playing.

[@giacomomazzola4123]

I hope that soon DG will also make a box in memory of James Levine!

[@arneheinemann3893]

I have it since last week ! A good box with boring Mozart symphonies.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

As I said...

[@jimyoung9262]

Don't sugar coat it Dave...How is Abbado's Mozart? 😂😂😂

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Sorry if I wasn't clear.