The Ninth was Bruckner’s farewell to the world, and Abbado’s. This performance from 2013 effortlessly achieves the sublime…The engineers have done their work perfectly. Both composer and conductor would surely have been happy with this result of their labours.

As satisfying as Abbado’s final Bruckner Ninth is, the First is the performance that feels uniquely personal and touching. Anyone who hasn’t acquired these two memorable performances now has the chance at mid-price.

A characteristic Abbado interpretation of the 9th, both sustained and deeply moving, but there are significant question-marks over the choice of edition for the 1st.

outstanding performances led by Claudio Abbado, recorded with an excellent tonmeister’s fine ear for perspective, tonal fidelity and good balance.