Abbado, Claudio

Rossini - La Cenerentola / Frederica von Stade, Francisco Araiza, Paolo Montarsolo, Claudio Desderi, Laura Zannini, Claudio Abbado

Peter and the Wolf: A Prokofiev Fantasy

A delightful DVD of Prokofiev's universally beloved and popular "musical tale," brought to life by human actors in a fairytale world inhabited by Muppet-like characters. Pop star Sting (The Police) lends his voice to a Sting puppet for the witty, enlightening commentary that guides the viewer through this charming suite. Also included is the Italian version with commentary by Academy® Award-winner Roberto Benigni, (Life is Beautiful) acted out by a Benigni puppet.

Beethoven, Mozart & Brahms Piano Concertos

• A terrific collection of five great piano concertos performed by Maurizio Pollini, one of the 20th centuries great virtuosos. • Filmed with the Vienna Philharmonic in the 1970s at the beautiful Musikverein in Vienna. • Karl Böhm conducts the Beethoven and Mozart concertos, while Claudio Abbado reads the Brahms.

TRACK LIST DVD1: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3, op 37 Piano Concerto No. 5, op 73 "Emperor" Vienna Philharmonic Karl Böhm, conductor DVD2: Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19, KV 459 Piano Concerto No. 23, KV 488 Vienna Philharmonic Karl Böhm, conductor

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, op. 83 Vienna Philharmonic Claudio Abbado, conductor

Mahler: Symphony No. 6 [DVD Video]

Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" [DVD Video]

Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, OP. 45

New Year's Eve Concert 1992 - Richard Strauss Gala / Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic, Kathleen Battle, Frederica von Stade, Renee Fleming

A 1992 New Year's Eve Concert recorded at the Philharmonie in Berlin, celebrating the works of Richard Strauss. Claudio Abbado conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Don Juan
tone poem for orchestra with Toru Yasunaga

Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks)
tone poem for orchestra

Burleske for piano and orchestra
with Martha Argerich

Der Rosenkavalier
Trio and Finale (Act III)
with Kathleen Battle, Renée Fleming, Andreas Schmidt, Frederica Von Stade

Verdi - Requiem / Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Daniela Barcellona, Julian Konstantinov, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic

For its sheer power and its precise balance of the two visions (epic and personal) embodied in Verdi's masterpiece, this is the Requiem to have. It would be hard to quarrel with anyone who chooses Leontyne Price in the 1967 Herbert von Karajan recording over Angela Gheorghiu, or Luciano Pavarotti over Roberto Alagna; the differences are slight and a matter of personal taste. But this is the most intensely dramatic of Verdi's works, including no less a climax than the flaming end of the world, and Claudio Abbado treats the composer's vision even more powerfully than von Karajan, with a magnificent orchestra and chorus at his disposal.

Von Karajan's soloists--all world-class and all in their best years--would be hard to surpass, but Abbado's are also excellent, and they sing with good tone and the kind of dramatic intensity demanded by Abbado--and Verdi. EMI's 16-page booklet sets a standard for the industry. --Joe McLellan

Beethoven - Symphonies 2 and 5 / Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic

Beethoven - Symphonies 1, 6, and 8 / Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic