Search - Schubert, Claudio Abbado :: Messe Es-Dur / Mass in E Flat Major D 950

Stunning

David Saemann | 08/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a magical performance. Recording it live seems to have been a good decision. There is real electricity throughout, while the recorded sound is beautifully full and well balanced. My only other experience of this piece is on Sawallisch's recording. His soloists are better than Abbado's, but in every other respect Abbado's performance is preferable. Not that Abbado's soloists are bad; the women and Jerry Hadley are quite good. Sawallisch's recording is in late analogue sound, which can in no way match the sound accorded Abbado. Also, Sawallisch's Bavarian Radio Symphony, however good, just cannot match the Vienna Philharmonic, here heard at its best. Abbado has a particularly fine feel for the sound of the choral passages. His chorus sings with superlative balances, and their overall sound is warm--if not especially luscious. There is a fine feeling of momentum throughout the performance. It's probably a vain wish, but I would love to have more Schubert masses from Abbado. I note that there is one other CD of a Schubert mass from him."