Vienna Bids Abbado an Uncharacteristically Emotional Farewell
Larry L. Lash

andante - 15 May 2002



Claudio Abbado received a thunderous farewell on Monday from the city of Vienna, where he led Mahler's Symphony No. 7 in his final concert as music director of the Berlin Philharmonic. The 69-year old maestro from Milan, who has been battling stomach cancer for several years, is departing the podium of the legendary orchestra after 12 years.

Rumors had circulated that Abbado's health had deteriorated sharply — Mahler's Seventh was replaced with two shorter, less-taxing Beethoven symphonies when the orchestra visited New York City's Carnegie Hall in October 2001 — but he appeared the epitome of youth and vigor at the Musikverein's "Golden Hall," where he presided over the 80-minute Mahler symphony in front of a packed house. Indeed, the conductor, appearing as part of the Vienna Festwochen, seemed to be having the time of his life, as did many members of the orchestra. Rarely have so many smiles been generated on either side of the stage during a Mahler performance.

The usually reserved Viennese public broke with all conventions: a crescendo of "Bravos" erupted on the last chord of the work and continued unabated for more than 24 minutes, longer than any of the symphony's five movements. Each of the women of the orchestra stepped forward and presented Abbado with a single red rose, each receiving in return a hug and kiss. The audience clapped rhythmically, stomped on the floor, pounded the walls, waved scarves and carpeted the entire stage with flowers. (Instrumentalists indulged in spontaneous games of "catch" with the rain of blossoms.) Prominent in the celebration were the "Abbadiani," members of an international society of the conductor's fans, established years ago by gallery regulars at La Scala.

After the musicians left the stage, Abbado was summoned for innumerable solo bows during which he beamed delight, waved, raised his hands in thanks and directed a hug to his adoring public. The delirium ceased only after the auditorium's lights were flashed on and off, signaling that it was time for the stage crew to begin their task of cleaning up.

Abbado succeeded Herbert von Karajan in 1989 as music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, a position to be assumed by Simon Rattle later this year. Since 1987, Abbado has been the general music director of the city of Vienna. He also served as music director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala for 18 years and the Vienna State Opera for five years; in 1988 he established the "Wien Modern" festival to promote new classical music.

In a recent interview, the conductor said that he plans to spend more time in Sardinia and Switzerland devoted to sailing, hiking, skiing, reading and thinking about the future.