In more recent years, every Abbado recording has been an event, something special – whether his Mahler symphonies with Berlin, or the Mozart, Bach and Pergolesi projects with “his” Orchestra Mozart. And, of course, as a sponsor and champion of new orchestras he is unrivalled – not least with his most recent creations, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the Orchestra Mozart.THE SYMPHONY EDITION – OVERVIEWHis Grand-Old-Man status assured Abbado remains a modest, unassuming but tenaciously demanding orchestral leader. Now, to celebrate the maestro’s reaching his 80th year, we have prepared an ambitious Symphony Edition as a birthday tribute:• Limited-edition 41-CD box set• Complete recordings of Abbado's recordings of eight great symphonists – Mozart (with Orchestra Mozart), Haydn, Beethoven (with Berliner Philharmoniker), Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruckner and Mahler (with Berliner Phliharmoniker and Lucerne festival Orchestra)• Featuring seven of the orchestras with whom Abbado is most closely associated (Orchestra Mozart, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, London Symphony, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Lucerne Festival Orchestra)• Complete symphonic cycles of Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Mahler (see attachment for complete track list).• All recordings have been personally selected by Claudio AbbadoIN PARTICULAR…• Bruckner’s First Symphony – a special “addition”: at Abbado’s request, we have licensed a live recording of Bruckner’s First Symphony with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, being released here for the first time anywhere.• He had previously recorded the first version (the “Linz” version, 1866) of the Symphony with the Wiener Philharmoniker, but has since discovered and championed the later expanded “Vienna” version (carried out by Bruckner in 1890–91) – a not uncontroversial step!• Is this such a big deal? Anyone who has heard performances of the symphony that Abbado has given with the orchestra on tour in recent months will know that this is an electrifying account, one that changes the way we should regard the work. It’s the first CD to go for in the Edition (and will be offered as advance music)!• In sum, a superb addition to the Symphony Edition, and to Abbado’s discogaphy (also to be released in a separate Bruckner box later).• Parallel to this Edition, Decca is releasing a 7-CD set of the early Abbado recordings on DeccaPACKAGING• The attractive cube features four striking, dynamic portraits of Abbado from the 1970s to the present day.• The 96-page four-language booklet has an interview with Abbado by journalist Julia Spinola (formerly of the Frankfürter Allgemeine) plus many photos. Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A major, K201Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B flat major, K319Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D major, K385 'Haffner'Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D major, K504 'Prague'Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K543Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551 'Jupiter'Orchestra MozartClaudio Abbado Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9Karita Mattila (soprano), Violeta Urmana (mezzo), Thomas Moser (tenor), Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone)Berliner Philharmoniker; Eric Ericsson Chamber Choir, Swedish Radio ChoirClaudio Abbado Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Mahler: Symphonies 1-9Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 1 and 3-9), Lucerne Festival Orchestra (No. 2)Claudio Abbado Bruckner: Symphony No. 1 in C minorLucerne Festival OrchestraClaudio Abbado Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major 'Romantic'Wiener PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B flat majorWiener PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E MajorWiener PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D MinorWiener PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Brahms: Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53Marjana Lipovsek (contralto)Berliner Philharmoniker, Ernst-Senff-ChorClaudio Abbado Brahms: Schicksalslied, Op. 54Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor BerlinClaudio Abbado Brahms: Nänie von Friedrich Schiller, für Chor und Orchester, Op. 82Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a 'St Anthony Variations'Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Brahms: Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11Mahler Chamber OrchestraClaudio Abbado Brahms: Serenade No. 2 in A Major, Op. 16Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio Abbado Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-9Chamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Schubert: Rosamunde: excerptsAnne Sofie von Otter (mezzo)Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Ernst-Senff-ChorClaudio Abbado Haydn: Il mondo della luna OvertureChamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 93 in D majorChamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 96 in D major 'Miracle'Chamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 98 in B flat majorChamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 100 in G major 'Military'Chamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 101 in D major 'The Clock'Chamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 102 in B flat majorChamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Symphony No. 103 in E flat major 'Drum Roll'Chamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major, Op. 84, Hob. I / 105Chamber Orchestra of EuropeClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1-5Elizabeth Connell (soprano I), Karita Mattila (soprano II), Hans-Peter Blochwitz (tenor)London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony ChorusClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Op. 21London Symphony OrchestraClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: The Fair Melusine Overture, Op. 32London Symphony OrchestraClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26London Symphony OrchestraClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas Overture, Op. 95London Symphony OrchestraClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 27London Symphony OrchestraClaudio Abbado Mendelssohn: Trumpet - Overture Op. 101London Symphony OrchestraClaudio Abbado
