Recordings continue to appear of the great conductor Claudio
Abbado www.deutschegrammophon.com/gb/artist/abbado
who sadly died last year. Thankfully we can remember him through the recordings
that he left, not the least of which are those live concerts that are finding
their way on to disc.
Deutsche Grammophon
www.deutschegrammophon.com have just released a recording with his
Orchestra Mozart www.orchestramozart.com
drawn from concerts in September 2011 at
the Bologna Auditorium Manzoni, Bologna, Italy and the Bozen Konzerthaus, Bolzano,
Italy. The single work on this disc is Schubert’s Great C major Symphony D.944
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The opening horn bars of the Andante bring a rather nostalgic feel before the orchestra join to
bring a beautifully shaped theme. As the
music rises in dynamics to lead into the Allegro
ma non Troppo Abbado draws his usual taut playing from his orchestra. There
is such fine care of rhythm, phrasing and dynamics; nothing is ever routine,
Abbado finding so many points of interest to reveal. This relatively small
orchestra really delivers the goods in the broader, more dynamic passages with
this conductor beautifully developing the movement throughout.
There is some terrific woodwind playing in the opening of
the Andante con moto with Abbado
drawing some punchy orchestral playing in the orchestral dynamics. The strings
of Orchestra Mozart provide some fine moments, a beautifully silken sound yet
with a firmness. There are many fine hushed passages with Abbado revealing all
the orchestral lines. He allows the movement to breathe, building centrally and
revealing some lovely details.
The Scherzo Allegro
vivace – Trio is terrifically paced with Abbado’s subtle flexibility of
tempi, his beautiful shaping of phrases as well as some lovely dance like
episodes. He really drives the music forward in the long phrases with a gorgeously
controlled trio section with so many subtleties revealed.
The Finale Allegro Vivace
opens full of dash and energy, pushing ahead. As the movement develops
Abbado reveals so many little details, always subtly adjusting the tempo and dynamics.
There is spot on playing, taut and full of verve, really pulling the listener
along. There is such fine control in the
quieter moments before he moves through some terrific passages as the music
develops. Abbado builds the music to perfection showing just how naturally
Schubert’s symphony develops over its glorious length. The hushed section towards
the end brings a fine tension before we are slowly led to the coda.
This is another recording to treasure. Abbado always seems
to bring something special to a performance and in this newly released
recording he does so in spectacularly fine fashion. There will always be arguments
over tempi and timings for recordings of this great work. Abbado’s performance,
longer than many, shows just how to pace this work naturally.
This is a masterly performance from the hands of a master.
I should not forget to mention what a fine orchestra
Orchestra Mozart are.
The live recording is first rate, very detailed and clear in
a lovely acoustic. There are booklet notes on Abbado, Orchestra Mozart and
Schubert.
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