Claudio Abbado’s LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, «Resurrection», now also available on DVD «And even though it is a recording, that heavenly spark can still be sensed; one looks, listens, enjoys and imagines that never had Debussy's colours appeared so luminous or Mahler's Maestoso seemed so free of pathos and so transparent.» These are words from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’s September 2004 review of the first compact disc from Claudio Abbado’s LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA. The live recording of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, «Resurrection», taken during the 2003 LUCERNE FESTIVAL and featuring the soloists Eteri Gvzava and Anna Larsson, is now available as a DVD in the shops on the EuroArts label, distributed by TDK. The DVD recording, captured in natural sounding, glorious 5.1 Surround Sound, very quickly garnered accolades from French specialist magazines, with the Diapason awarding it its «Golden Diapason», the Monde de la Musique giving it a «Shock» rating, and Repertoire/Classica marking it with a full «10». Le Monde de la Musique: «…One has seldom heard such a moving Mahler Second (…) From the moment of its creation the new LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA finds itself on the way to legendary status. Abbado himself is already there». DVD: LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA CHF 45.00 Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, «Resurrection» The DVD, which first appeared this October 2004 in the shops under the TDK label, was recorded at the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA’s concerts of 19 and 20 August 2003, conducted by Claudio Abbado. The two performances – acclaimed as the highpoint of the year – marked an end to the first phase of this orchestra, which had been founded only a few months earlier in 2003. EuroArts/TDK, DV-COMS2 1053269 Other CD/DVD recordings available: EuroArts brought out a DVD to coincide with this summer’s 2004 LUCERNE FESTIVAL: it documents Claudio Abbado’s triumph with the newly formed LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA and portrays both the evocative resurrection of this orchestra as well as its illustrious past. You get to meet, both on stage and in interviews, many of the 20th century’s greatest conductors, including Ernest Ansermet, Rafael Kubelik and Herbert von Karajan. DVD: The History of the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA CHF 45.00 This DVD, on the EuroArts label, tells the story of the creation of the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA, and comes complete with two performances by the orchestra under Claudio Abbado that were recorded in summer 2003, featuring Claude Debussy’s «La Mer» and «The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian». DVD Abbado in Lucerne; EuroArts 2053469 Likewise coinciding with the 2004 LUCERNE FESTIVAL, Deutsche Grammophon issued a double-CD that allows the listener to experience the explosive qualities of this unique orchestra: CD: Claudio Abbado, LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA CHF 44.00 This double-CD contains recordings of the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA’s first appearances under Claudio Abbado in summer 2003, featuring Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Claude Debussy’s «La Mer». DG 2CDs 00289 477 508-2 This year’s 2004 LUCERNE FESTIVAL is commemorated by a CD whose focus is the summer’s star artiste, Maurizio Pollini: CD: Maurizio Pollini, The Festival Edition 2004 CHF 34.00 This Festival Edition double-CD captures the world-famous pianist’s summer 2004 performances. It contains almost the entire programme of his performances (with works by Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven and Schönberg) in Lucerne’s famous Culture and Convention Centre, a venue designed by another star, the architect Jean Nouvel. The Festival Edition double-CD and other recordings described above may be obtained from the internet shop at www.lucernefestival.ch or by telephoning +41 (0)41 226 44 00. Alternatively you can buy them at the information +desk in the foyer of the KKL Luzern. November 22, 2004 -- Sabine Mühlberg LUCERNE FESTIVAL Leiterin Public Relations Hirschmattstrasse 13 CH-6002 Luzern T: +41 (0)41 226 4443 (direkt) T: +41 (0)41 226 4400 F: +41 (0)41 226 4460 www.lucernefestival.ch s.muehlberg@lucernefestival.ch