In honor of his birthday, let me share with you three very special moments from Claudio Abbado’s career that show his personality, his inspirational approach to conducting Bach, and his legendary Mahler in a precious recording! The music world was shocked by the appointment of Abbado at the head of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1989 following the death of the great Herbert von Karajan — but it proved to be the right choice. Having spent hours listening to and comparing recordings of the Berlin Phil over the years, I believe that Abbado’s influence can still be heard in the orchestra’s more flexible sound, broader repertoire, and more open approach to new music. His more modern leadership style also had an enormous influence on the orchestra which, before his arrival, was more accustomed to the traditional setup of the conductor as the authority figure.
92 years after the birth of the great Italian maestro, I thought it fitting to share with you the following excerpt from the very beginning of his Berlin Phil career; his revealing answer to the question “Are you now the most powerful conductor?” gives us a glimpse of his humility, even as the principal conductor of one of the “greatest orchestras in the world.”
It wasn’t just in Berlin where he left an indelible mark; throughout his career, Abbado worked with other top-tier institutions, like the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, and the Orchestra Mozart (which he founded in his final years). His larger-than-life legacy is as much a product of his sheer conducting talent as it is of the joyful collaborative spirit he brought to music-making. He has deeply inspired me to become a better person and friend, and to bring these important qualities into my day-to-day work life as part of an editorial team in which each member plays an essential role, just like in an orchestra! When I watch Abbado conduct Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 — with its nine separate solo parts (3 violins, 3 violas, and 3 cellos) — I see a perfect embodiment of teamwork. Witness the discreet and respectful role Abbado plays, letting the musicians breathe and at times just stepping back and enjoying the music with them…
Abbado conducted a vast repertoire, and the monumental symphonies of the 19th and 20th centuries called for a very different approach from the works of Bach. For me, you can’t get much better than Mahler’s “Titan” Symphony No. 1, a masterpiece whose every movement, measure, and note is filled with vibrant life, emotional intensity, and evocative depictions of nature. One of my favorite renditions is Abbado’s glorious 2009 interpretation, with this waltzing, klezmer-inspired passage that seems to animate the orchestra into both song and dance. Watch the conductor’s precise and masterful baton as he leads the extraordinary Lucerne Festival Orchestra, composed of members from the most prestigious ensembles in Europe who give their all here — it’s an absolute triumph.
Enjoy and be inspired, like me, by the wonderful personality, artistry, and legacy of a true legend!
