Classical home listening: Martin James Bartlett: La Danse; Arvo Pärt: Tractus
The British pianist cuts a dash on his all-French new record, while string orchestra and choir join forces on ECM’s latest album of works by the Estonian composer
February 2021
Mahler: Symphonies 1-10 review – a sumptuous Berlin Phil moves from the glib to the sublime
This mammoth undertaking, of all of Mahler’s symphonies with different conductors over the last decade, brings variable musical results
June 2017
Mahler: Symphony No 8 DVD review – Chailly pays impressive tribute to Abbado
Riccardo Chailly’s debut concert with the Swiss orchestra, dedicated to his mentor Claudio Abbado, is thoughtful and measured
June 2016
Berlin Phil: Europa Concerts 1991-2015 DVD review – a set of special things to savour
A quarter century of broadcast Europa Concerts are brought together in this extensive DVD set that features some exceptional performances
January 2016
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique CD review - a handsome tribute
Under Claudio Abbado the Berlin Philharmonic’s Mendelssohn is extraordinary, but the Berlioz feels a little low-voltage
November 2015
Misha Mullov-Abbado: New Ansonia review – an impressive debut
The double-bassist son of Claudio Abbado and Viktoria Mullova delivers Ellingtonian ensemble colours, luxurious ballads and punchy swing in style
September 2015
Gramophone awards honour Claudio Abbado with one final prize
Bernard Haitink, Paavo Järvi and Joseph Moog among other winners in the classical music magazine’s annual awards
August 2015
Tom Service on classical music
Chailly to be Music Director of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra
The orchestra founded by Abbado has been without a Chief Conductor since his death in 2014. Chailly is an exciting replacement who will ensure that Abbado’s legacy continues
March 2015
Working with Simon Rattle has been the best music education of my life
Fergus McWilliam
A horn player with the Berlin Philharmonic on his 13 years with the conductor and what the London Symphony Orchestra can expect from its new leader
July 2014
Bruckner: Symphony No 9 review – Claudio Abbado's great last testament
Compiled from Abbado's final concerts at the Lucerne festival last year, this recording captures the transparent beauty of the occasion, writes Andrew Clements
June 2014
Claudio Abbado: the Complete RCA and Sony Album Collection review – imaginative and intellectual curiosity
Not everything is top-notch in this mammoth collection of Claudio Abbado's recordings for RCA and Sony, but his rendition of Beethoven's Ninth certainly is, writes Andrew Clements
April 2014
Claudio Abbado memorial concert review – 'in his absence he could not have felt more present'
The Lucerne Festival Orchestra did their late, great conductor Claudio Abbado proud in a powerfully affecting performance, writes Fiona Maddocks
February 2014
Arts head
Arts head: Donagh Collins, chief executive, Askonas Holt
Mozart: Piano Concertos K.503 & K.466 – review
January 2014
Daniel Barenboim leads La Scala's last tribute to Claudio Abbado
Music blog
The best of Claudio Abbado on YouTube
Claudio Abbado: 'one of the greatest musicians of the past 50 years'
Simon Rattle on Claudio Abbado: 'He said "I feel I hear from the inside of my body'"
'He was one of the greatest of our time': Mariss Jansons pays tribute to Claudio Abbado
