Classics Unlocked with Graham Abbott Universal Music Australia

In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham explores the dynamic between the literary themes of William Shakespeare and the music of Giuseppe Verdi. Verdi took inspiration from the works of Shakespeare three times in his career, once fairly early on (Macbeth), and then decades later for his final two operas (Otello & Falstaff). He is on record as having expressed deep admiration for Shakespeare, and he read his works from an early age.
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In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham looks at three of the most celebrated 'unfinished' symphonies, from the genius minds of Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler.
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In this episode of Classics Unlocked, Graham Abbott explores one of the landmarks of 20th century piano music in Claude Debussy's Preludes. Following the tradition laid down by JS Bach and Chopin (among others), Debussy wrote a set of 24 preludes (across two books of twelve), but the stress on them wasn't so much key as it was colour, expression and emotional impact.
This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording:
DEBUSSY: Preludes I & II
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano
Deutsche Grammophon
DISCOVER Book I: https://uma.lnk.to/UTg76M7nID
DISCOVER Book II: https://uma.lnk.to/CZvJdSvAID

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In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the last of the German Romantic composers, Richard Strauss, who is today remembered primarily for creating stunning works in two genres: orchestral tone poems and operas. Yet Strauss should be remembered just as much for his creation of music in another genre, because he took up the challenge of continuing and developing the German song tradition in a form usually known as Lieder. An extension of the form was the orchestral song, and Strauss composed more than 40 orchestral songs, spanning most of his life.
The soloists featured in this episode of Classics Unlocked are:
Jessye Norman
https://uma.lnk.to/AQLglAiIID​
Karita Mattila
https://uma.lnk.to/6thkJvcSID​
Christine Schäfer
https://uma.lnk.to/KzUEkJ3CID​
Renée Fleming
https://uma.lnk.to/TaYhiQocID​
Lisa Della Casa
https://uma.lnk.to/uAW4T5jTID

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In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores another chapter in the extraordinary creative output of Ludwig van Beethoven: his piano concertos. Beethoven revolutionised the way composers composed, and the way performers performed. Today, it is easily forgotten that Beethoven's piano concertos were written for himself to display both his compositional and pianistic capabilities.
This episode of Classics Unlocked featured the following recording:
BEETHOVEN ODYSSEY
Colin Davis, conductor
Stephen Kovacevich, piano
BBC Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
Decca Eloquence 484 1728 (12-CD)
DISCOVER: https://Eloquence.lnk.to/00028948417285OA

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In this episode of 'Classics Unlocked', Graham Abbott explores one of the mightiest works for the keyboard: Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations'. Today, it stands alongside the St Matthew Passion, the Mass in B minor, The Art of Fugue and the Musical Offering as an eternal musical monument.
This episode features four different recordings, headed by Lang Lang's 2020 Deutsche Grammophon album:
BACH: Goldberg Variations
Lang Lang, piano
DG 481 8971
DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/usjMcRfFYP​
BACH: Goldberg Variations (Extended Edition)
Lang Lang, piano
DG 481 9701
DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/zomHEe0QYP​
BACH: Goldberg Variations
George Malcolm, harpsichord
Decca Eloquence 482 8439
DISCOVER: https://Eloquence.lnk.to/000289482843...​
BACH: Goldberg Variations
Julian Rachlin, violin; Nobuko Imai, viola; Mischa Maisky, cello
DG 477 6378
DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/0PYI5JJY​
BACH: Goldberg Variations
Catrin Finch, harp
DG 4778097
DISCOVER: https://uma.lnk.to/SYQjBjv0​


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