# Composers: Sergei Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
# Orchestras: Berliner Philharmoniker, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Mozart, London Symphony Orchestra
# Conductor: Claudio Abbado
# Vinyl (2015)
# Number of Discs: 6
# Format: FLAC
# DR Analysis: DR 15, DR 14, DR 15, DR 14, DR 14, DR 16
# Label: Deutsche Grammophon | 0289 479 4548
# Size: 24-bit/192kHz (12.0GB), 24-bit/96kHz (5.96GB) and 16-bit/44.1kHz (1.44GB)
# Recovery: 5%
# Scan: yes
# Servers: File Factory
Absolutely STUNNING sound quality on this box set!
Especially LP6!!
Reviews:
While Abbado provides excellent support with his various orchestras, the collector buys foremost the passionate wizardry of Martha Argerich and her thorough synthesis of a demonic technique and volatile subjectivity into every piece she encounters. Argerich has consistently combined virile aggression and poetic tenderness in a delicately balanced alchemy, often with electrifying results. The Argerich performance of the Tchaikovsky Concerto from December 1994 makes an excellent case in point, passionate and heroically scaled. Abbado’s own contribution proves both elastic and potent, with excellent sonic detail from his brass, flute, oboe, and low winds.
The piano’s double octaves prior to the first cadenza testify to a firebrand keyboardist of the first order. The fusion of stunning finger-control and spontaneous vehemence takes us through a blistering first movement, no less explosively confrontational in the latter two movements but intimate and tempestuously scintillating, respectively. [Mozart]: the lyrico-dramatic mass of the D Minor Concerto and the virtually Miltonic breadth of the C Major Concerto each benefit from crystalline filigree from Argerich and a strongly architectural balance from Abbado, who had certainly achieved a notable sense of musical character in his own terms.
– Gary Lemco, Audiophile Audition
One of the finest musical partnerships over the last forty years or so. This treasure trove of music making starts with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. This is a performance of power and authority combined with wit and understanding. There is phenomenal playing here with intuitive accompaniment from Abbado and the Berlin players, a fine incisiveness with moments of supreme poetry. Abbado brings some raucous jazz elements to the Ravel Piano Concerto in G major. Argerich provides a freely improvisatory quality that is quite beguiling. Dramatic contrasts abound as well as some exquisitely pointed up details and poetic moments.
Abbado draws from the orchestra some intoxicating orchestral sounds. There is a wonderfully restrained “adagio assai”, surely one of the finest performances of this movement, exquisitely done by all. [Chopin / Piano Concerto no. 1]: Abbado and the LSO bring some stirring playing in the opening of the “allegro maestoso” with some beautifully turned woodwind passages. There is a lovely sensibility from Argerich, tremendous fluency, beautifully judged tempi and phrasing and a fine rubato. There is virtuosity galore in Liszt Piano Concerto No.1. The live Lucerne recordings are excellent. These are memorable performances from a memorable partnership. If you haven’t already got them, snap them up.
– Bruce Reader, Classical Reviewer
Track Listing:
Side One
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 In C, Op.26
01 – I. Andante – Allegro
02 – II. Tema con variazione
03 – III. Allegro ma non troppo
Side Two
Ravel: Piano Concerto In G, M. 83
04 – I. Allegramente
05 – II. Adagio assai
06 – III. Presto
Side Three
Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1 In E Minor, Op.11
01 – I. Allegro maestoso
02 – II. Romance (Larghetto)
03 – III. Rondo (Vivace)
Side Four
Liszt: Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat, S.124
04 – I. Allegro maestoso
05 – II. Quasi adagio – Allegretto vivace – Allegro animato
06 – III. Allegro marziale animato
Side Five
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23 (cont.)
01 – Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito
Side Six
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23 (conc.)
02 – Andantino semplice – Prestissimo – Tempo I
03 – Allegro con fuoco
Side Seven
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 In C Minor, Op.37
01 – I. Allegro con brio
02 – II. Largo
03 – III. Rondo (Allegro)
Side Eight
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.2 in B Flat Major, Op.19
04 – I. Allegro con brio
05 – II. Adagio
06 – III. Rondo (Molto allegro)
Side Nine
Mozart: Piano Concerto No.25 In C, K.503
01 – I. Allegro maestoso – Cadenza: Friedrich Gulda
02 – II. Andante
03 – III. Allegretto
Side Ten
Mozart: Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K.466
04 – I. Allegro
05 – II. Romance
06 – III. Rondo (Allegro assai)
Side Eleven
Ravel: Piano Concerto In G, M.83
01 – I. Allegramente
02 – II. Adagio assai
03 – III. Presto
Side Twelve
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, M.55
04 – I. Ondine
05 – II. Le gibet
06 – III. Scarbo
Mastered at Optimal from the original analogue source
Lacquers cut by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios
Limited, numbered six LP set – only 2000 sets
Additional info can be found here.
Ripping Info:
All vinyl is cleaned on a VPI 16.5
Milty Pro Zerostat 3
Technics SL1200-MK5 (modified)
– Rega RB300 arm with RB700 wiring
– Michell Tecnoweight
– SoundSupports armboard
– Trans-Fi Audio ResoMat
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II
AVID Pellar preamp
RME Hammerfall 9632 ADC
PC
Processing: Sound Forge 10, ClickRepair, iZotope RX3
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Links:
Click here to download the 16/44 files
Click here to download the 24/96 files
Click here to download the 24/192 files
Password is SteveMTNO.
Thank you, Steve!
This is a much anticipated gift from you!
I think these recordings are must-have for everyone who loves piano (and classical) music!
Truly there is a God in heaven! Thanks a million
Thanks!
Thank you so so much Steve for this great post!
Very good stuff, Steve. I’m still listening. She’s good.
Thanks,
Bob
Thanks!
Thank you very much ! I really admire Argerich and Abbado !
Thank you!
Luxurious Gift Steve!
What a wonderful set. Thank you.
Many, many thanks for this superb set.
This great, great, great…thank you very much!!!!
Indeed, wonderful. Thank You very much.
Night Owl,
Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this long expected set in all of its high quality glory!
Best,
Tiago
My pleasure, Tiago! Hope you like it!
Thank you very much. Great!!!
Thank you
Thank you so much 🙂
Thank you very much for this gift 🙂
I can’t wait to listen to it
Heyo NightOwl thank you so much for this…
I took it in 192 some days ago but i think my audio system is not able to handle this sometimes it clearly sounds muddled (maybe it’s because these are recent and powerful reeditions i don’t know) so i’m going to test the 24/96 and the part 2 is tellin “Server Load Too High” for two days now. I just have to wait isn’it?
Anyway thank you again this blog is a pure light in this troubled world ><
Can you give me specific instances where you think the sound is “muddled”? I’ll check things on my end.
As for the “server load too high” messages, there isn’t anything I can do about that. Are you a premium FF member? You shouldn’t be getting those msgs if you are.
it often happens with high pitch piano notes but anyway i think this is due to my basic audio system… For instance the Prokoviev PC No.3 at 03:00… Anyway thank you for your answer.
For the “server load too high” i’m not premium i used since i discovered this blog a multi-debrider and it does support the FF links.
I’ll just wait again and if there is always this error screen i will think about taking a premium account just for this blog xD.
Thanks for a real gem!
But sorry, I agree with bezdaks
I downloaded the 96k release and hear distortions in Prokofiev PC, but in Ravel PC too
I listened to this only
Give me specific instances (tracks, times) to listen for and I’ll check them out.
Hi Steve…I’m a little offtopic….I answered to your last msg in your blog, but I cannot see it, so I sent again an answer. maybe you get my reply twice…
If I did something wrong, the answer was: oreloB and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Yeah, I’m not sure why the PM system there doesn’t update right away, but I got both replies..
Sorry worked all night
ARGERICH-ABBADO – Piano Concertos Box LP1 – Track 03 (2496)
1:42-2:05
4:56-5:15
6:24-6:52
7:28-9:00 (many fragments)
Thanks for the additional info, o_p. I’ll try to check it out over the weekend.
PM me on Monday if you don’t hear from me first.
I didn’t hear anything at 1:42-2:05 or 4:56-5:15, but I did notice periodic “distortion” during 6:24-6:52 and 7:28-9:00. Unfortunately, this seems to be on the vinyl..
Thanks
Hi NightOwl, I bought the DG Originals 6LP which contains Argerich’s Chopin and Liszt concerto, and I also bought the mozart concerto LP before the release of this box, thus I already have two LPs from this box, in this case, is it worthy to buy this box?
That is a question that only you and your finances can determine.. 😉
Hi all, somebody was able to download 24bit-192kHz version and unwinrar them? part01 is damaged. It seems part13 is a last one (at least smaller one) but winrar looks for part14.
Thanks a lot
There are only 13 parts, not 14.
Part one has been downloaded almost 200 times now without a problem. Try it again. If you still have problems, send me a PM.
Without premium account download of 192kHz took too much time … Everything works!!! Great and thanks a lot
Muchisimas Gracias!!!!Saludos desde Salta,ARGENTINA
My goodness, this is genial. Thank you Steve 🙂