Mendelssohn - Sinfonias 4 & 5 - Abbado, London SO

Mendelssohn - Sinfonias 4 & 5 - Abbado, London SO
Opera | Eac, Ape, cue | log, cover | 1 CD, 232 MB
October 25, 1990 | DG| RapidShare

Without question, Abbado's Mendelsson symphony cycle, recorded in the mid 1980's, remains among the best. The highlights include splendid performances of the 4th and 5th symphonies, with the others almost as fine, with Abbado opting for brisk tempi and emphasizing the scores' broad orchestral textures. As expected, the London Symphony's sound is beautifully rich and warm. The sound quality is quite superb, though may be a bit dry in comparison to recordings made at the Vienna Philharmonic's concert hall. Avid fans of Abbado and Mendelssohn's music will surely want to acquire this cd.



CD Content

Symphony No. 4 in A major ("Italian"), Op. 90
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

Symphony No. 5 in D major/D minor ("Reformation"), Op. 107
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

Stravinsky - Pulcinella - Berganza, Abbado,London SO

Stravinsky - Pulcinella - Berganza, Abbado,London SO
Ballet | Eac, flac, cue | log, cover | 1 CD, 242 MB
October 25, 1990 | Polygram | RapidShare

Igor Stravinsky supposedly based his Pulcinella on musical fragments of 18th century Italian composers Pergolesi, Gallo, Chelleri and Parisotti but there may be a higher degree of the Russian composer in the music than the Italians. The ballet scenario was based a mysterious manuscript that Serge Diaghilev found in Naples and the work was first performed in 1920. This performance is of the revised score of 1947. Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony turn in a vigorous performance with generally fast tempos. The soloists are superb: Teresa Berganza, Ryland Davies and John Shirley-Quirk; each brings a good deal of warmth and personality to their singing and it would be hard to find a better ensemble. The Largo and Tempo di minuetto (Trio) are especially well sung. The well-known Vivo section with the distinctive brass fanfare is especially well played. Overall, this performance of Pulcinella has a great deal of personality that should not be missed.

The performance of Jeu de cartes is also very spirited and well-balanced with excellent dynamics. The quiet passages are well-phrased and the difficult rhythms are handled with ease. The recording is clear and balanced and at mid-price this disc is irresistible.--Amazon


Cd Content

Stravinsky - Pulcinella
Stravinsky - Jeu de Cartes

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Rossini & Verdi Overtures - London SO, Abbado

Rossini & Verdi Overtures - London SO, Abbado
Orchestral | Eac, flac, cue | log, cover | 1 CD, 367 MB
September 6, 2001 | RCA | RapidShare

When Claudio Abbado headed the LSO in the Seventies he was at his most spontaneous and energetic. Listening to this highly charged Rossini overture CD, you'd never suspect that this fiery conductor would turn into the rather careful Rossinian of later years. There are other outstanding Rossini overture records that are warm and classic (Giulini), coolly virtuosic (Reiner and Szell), driven and intense (Toscanini), and excitingly extroverted (Bernstein), but they all sound rame and controlled compared to this CD.

The LSO plays with exceptional vivacity, and the recording from RCA, being bright and forward, adds to the thrills. I'm so glad that all these works aren't played in the jokey, light Rossini style of the Barber of Seville. Semiramide, for example, is a tragedy, and Abbado interprets the overture with more drama and weight than usual. In the Turco in Italia Over. we get a stunning horn obbligato from Barry Tuckwell that's worth the whole price of admisison. The Barber of Seville is full of carefree good humor, William Tell is totally devoid of mannerisms, played as if we haven't all heard it a thousand times--the storm section is a knockout from the LSO brass section, as is the finale mad gallop.

The three Verdi preludes and overtures that fill out this mid-price CD are also very fine, but the real show is Rossini. What a shame that this eye-opening, heart-stopping recording seems to be overlooked.

Rossini - Overture to Semiramide
Rossini - Overture to La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder)
Rossini - Overture to Il turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy)
Rossini - Overture to Il barbière di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)
Rossini - Overture to Tancredi
Rossini - Overture to Guillaume Tell (William Tell)
Verdi - Overture to Aida
Verdi - Overture to I Vespri siciliani, opera (Les vêpres siciliennes)
Verdi - Overture to La forza del destino

Orchestra: London Symphony OrchestraConductor: Claudio Abbado
Composer: Gioachino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi
Audio CD (September 6, 2001)
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: Original recording remastered
Label: RCA