WAGNER - "TANNHAUSER" - ABBADO - 1995

RIP MY FINE MAESTRO !!!

(CLAUDIO ABBADO PASSED AWAY FROM STOMACH CANCER AT 80, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO 1-20-14)

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TCHAIKOVSKY IS MY "ALL AROUND" FAVORITE COMPOSER FOR EVERYTHING - LISZT IS MY FAVORITE FOR MY INSTRUMENT, THE PIANO - BUT WAGNER MASTERED THE INSTRUMENT OF THE ORCHESTRA LIKE NO ONE ELSE AND IS MY FAVORITE COMPOSER FOR THAT INSTRUMENT.......

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I USE TO PRETTY MUCH HAVE A 3 WAY TIE FOR FAVORITE CONDUCTORS, BETWEEN LORIN MAZELL, LEONARD SLATKIN AND CLAUDIO ABBADO - BUT NOW WE ARE ALL LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE AGE TO BE AURALLY ASSAULTED BY THE YOUNG GENIUS, GUSTAVO DUDAMEL, AND IF THAT HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU WILL BE WOUNDED BEYOND REPAIR, AND MUST REMAIN HIS SLAVE FOREVER........NOT ONLY DOES GUSTAVO "THE DUDE" YANK THE BEST SOUNDS, (IN ALL HISTORY), OUT OF THE ORCHESTRAS, HE THEN THROWS IT AT YOU WITH HIS DRAMATIC ARM WAVING BIT, WHAT I CALL "THE DANCE" - (AND HE GETS DOWN BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE), FOR THESE REASONS I MUST NOW PUT HIM ABOVE ALL OTHERS !!!