It's amazing the way Abbado brings the melodic writing to the fore in the very different worlds of the Prokofiev and the Berg Lulu Suite, crowned by Anna Prohaska's meaningful characterisation...As for Tchaikovsky's Pathétique, I challenge you to sit unshaken through the way Abbado nurtures string tone, body and vibrato from his Latin players.

It's scintillatingly communicative. Some of the players are noticeably a touch nervous; it makes the Tchaikovsky grippingly heartfelt while the Berg...has an edgy quality that really brings it alive...Watching Abbado's response to these young Latinos, and vice-versa, reminds you of those transcendental human qualities music has...I can't imagine there being a more engaging audio-visual recording of [these works]

Aided by superb camera work, we see him, gaunt but energised, bringing sophistication and élan to Prokofiev’s monster canvas, conjuring magic and fragrance from the Berg and driving the Pathétique to the edge of the abyss.

the combination of [Abbado's] sophisticated ear for sonority with the band's raw energy and sheer strength in numbers make for some terrific music-making...his exquisite touch is evident throughout in what is obviously a meticulously prepared account as well as a suitably emotive one...[Prohaska] is marvellous.