Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz [Vienna] Schubert :: Die letzen Symphonien [Box Set]

An essential Abendroth collection!

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 03/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This bargain box from the Berlin Classics label is an excellent initiative: here we have a state of the art collection of Hermann Abendroth's (1883-1956) legacy, focused on "last symphonies" - i.e., late symphonies from the core masters of classical music conducted by an "old school" master, famous for his dignified authority and "subjective" though carefully balanced approach to music. It has been released to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Abendroth's death (1956).



In this box we find the following gems:



1. Mozart, Symphonies nos. 35 ("Haffner"), nos. 38 ("Prague") and 41 ("Jupiter"). The two first recorded in 1955, and the latter in 1956.

2. Beethoven, Symphony no. 9. Recorded in 1951.

3. Schubert, Symphonies nos. 8 ("Unfinished") and 9 ("The Great"). Recorded in 1950 and 1949.

4. Schumann, Symphony no. 4 (+ Cello concerto). Recorded in 1956 and 1955.

5. Brahms, Symphonies nos. 3 and 4. Recorded in 1952 and 1954.

6. Bruckner, Symphony 9. Recorded in 1951.

7. Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 6 ("Pathéthique"). Recorded in 1952.



With two exceptions all recordings are made with Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig. But Mozart symphonies nos. 35 and 41 are recorded with Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin.



These recordings have been previously released on CD, but they are now hard to find in most cases. And that's just because Abendroth's interpretations in this box are classics of classics, crème de la crème, and - well, you name it!



All recordings are in mono sound, but Berlin Classics has done a fine remastering job. They have never sounded better on disc than here.



Warmly and strongly recommended!

"