Schubert - Mass in E-flat Major D 950 - Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic

 

Release Date: 04/11/1988 Label: Deutsche Grammophon Number of discs: 1 Composer: Franz Schubert Performer: Claudio Abbado cd info/ buy

Review:

This is a magical performance. Recording it live seems to have been a good decision. There is real electricity throughout, while the recorded sound is beautifully full and well balanced. As such, it seems rather incredible that it took as long as it did for large-scale works of Schubert's like this Mass to become seriously well-known, a revelation made all the more apparent by listening to this live recording from November 1986 by the Vienna State Opera Chorus and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, under long-time Viennese favorite Claudio Abbado. Featuring five world-class vocal soloists (Marjana Lipovsek; Jerry Hadley; Karita Mattila; Jorge Antonio Pita; Robert Holl) and recorded at Vienna's famed Singverein, the performance on hand shows not only how great a composer Schubert was, but the potential that would have been shown to the world had he not passed on at such an early age. Abbado has a particularly fine feel for the sound of the choral passages. His chorus sings with superlative balances, and their overall sound is warm--if not especially luscious. There is a fine feeling of momentum throughout the performance. At close to an hour in length, it is an immense work on the spiritual level of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

 

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Egyptomania (great works inspired by Egypt) - Mozart, Berlioz, Schubert, Verdi Etc

Release Date: 1 Oct 1999 Label: EMI Classics Number of discs: 2 Composer: Various Performer: Riccardo Muti, Michel Plasson, Wolfgang Sawallisch Etc cd info/ buy

Review:

Egypt has had a significant impact on the cultural imagination of all Western Cultures. Egyptomania is a concept that describes the Western fascination with ancient Egyptian culture and history. Although this fascination goes back to a time immediately following the pharaonic period, "Egyptomania" specifically refers to the renewed interest in Egypt during the nineteenth century as a result of Napoleon's "Egyptian Campaign" (1798–1801) and, in particular, as a result of the extensive scientific study of Ancient Egyptian remains and culture inspired by this campaign.

 

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Franz Schubert - Complete Symphonies – Riccardo Muti, Vienna Philharmonic

 

Release Date: November 29, 2005 Label: Brilliant Classics Number of discs: 4 Composer: Franz Schubert Performer: Muti, Vienna Philharmonic cd info/ buy

Review:

Thanks again to Brilliant Classics, who have really made a name for themselves by buying the licenses of major releases to issue in their budget packages. They have scored a major goal here with getting the EMI set of Muti's Schubert symphonic cycle. And at a fraction of the price. I know the Vienna/Muti set is not to everyone's liking, but I've rarely heard Muti so fired up (have you heard his Symphonie Fantastique on Seraphim with the Philadelphia Orchestra?). You really can't go wrong with the Brilliant Classics approach. My only gripe is that the 9th is spread out over two discs, but it is forgivable if you take the whole set into account. If you want all of Schubert's symphonies played with passion and conviction, especially the early works (the 2nd in B flat is a knock-out!), this set is for you.