Decca 478 5365, 7 CDs
Those who read my post on Claudio Abbado's Deutsche Grammophon 41-CD symphonic box may be interested in the newly released seven-CD set entitled "The Decca Years." Between February 1966 and January 1969, the young Claudio Abbado recorded nine LP discs for Decca. They ranged from Beethoven and Mendelssohn through Brahms, Bruckner, Verdi and Prokofiev, Janacek and Hindemith. This small but precious legacy (as Decca notes on their boxed set) both documents the exciting music-making that secured Abbado his early recording opportunities and attests to his uncommon versatility. The new set brings together his complete Decca studio recordings for the very first time. The performances are all commercial recordings rather than so many (wonderful) live performances that appear in the 41-CD DGG boxed set. A booklet is enclosed, of course, and the cardboard sleeves offer the original British LP covers, always a nice touch! Those who enjoy traversing the art of conductors from their earliest recordings to the present will certainly enjoy having this set. In the notes by David Gutman is the following: "While Abbado would eventually find conditions better at Deutsche Grammophon, his small but precious Decca legacy both documents the exciting music-making that got him noticed and attests to his uncommon versatility." [One wonders what "conditions" existed at Decca that made him switch to DGG. I am also sure that comment would not have been included if Universal did not now currently own both Decca AND Deutsche Grammophon!]
Here is what's included in the box (in German with English additions):
•Beethoven: Symphonien Nr. 7 & 8;Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus-Ouvertüre op. 43
•Brahms: Rinaldo op. 50 [with James King, tenor); Schicksalslied op. 54
•Bruckner: Symphonie Nr. 1 (Linz Version 1866)
•Mendelssohn: Symphonien Nr. 3 & 4
•Prokofieff: Symphonie, Nr. 1 "Klassische" & Nr. 3;Chout-Ballettsuite op. 21b;Romeo & Julia-Suite
•Hindemith: Symphonische Metamorphosen über ein Thema von Weber
•Janacek: Sinfonietta
•Verdi: Szenen & Arien au Nabucco, Macbeth, I Vespri Siciliani, Simon Boccanegra [with Nicolai Ghiaurov]
Artists/Orchestras: James King, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Leslie Fyson, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, conductor
Label: Decca, ADD, 1966-1969
