Anna Larsson in: „Berliner Philharmoniker, Das Magazin“, March/April 2006
Concerning the „Abbado-magic“:
It is part of his genius. The sad thing about geniuses is only that not everybody understands them. For some it is too much of a good thing. (…) Abbado tries to impart the force of music and at the same time pass on his own force. To the orchestra, to the singers. It is very interesting to watch him rehearsing. For the magic lies behind the apparently so simple way. Without saying it explicitly he manages to convince the musicians that they are doing the right thing. He does not try to tell them what is right. And that is the decisive difference. (…) He always knows what is right. But he does not say it. He knows he is the captain of the ship. He has the last say. But he makes himself almost invisible. He rules without meaning himself. He means the music. Always.
Marc Albrecht: Interview in “Fränkischer Tag“, 14.1.2006
Abbado has a very personal access to an orchestra. One that, in the freedom of expression as well as in the marvellous balance between the heart and the brains, the head and the stomach, cannot be imitated. Many musicians have either or he has both. And that is not found so frequently.