#200 The Smell of Hiding

Everybody is hiding something here: Amneris, Aida, Radames, and even orchestra. It's a play in play, full of affectation, graduated. Will it hold together? The storm at the end brings perishable relief, not for long.

The singers here do not want to push too much, it's the orchestra sound that starts to incite. They just want to keep pace with it. Nothing really happens, yet the tragedy just arrived. Not wanted, just unavoidable.

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Work: Aida, "Vieni, o diletta, appressati"
Recording: Elena Obraztsova, Katia Ricciarelli, Plácido Domingo, Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado

#104 The Smell of Dead Child

From the very first moment, here comes an irreversible tragedy of splendid power. The total passing of father and son, non-acceptance turned to non-existence. Primary narrative, sonorous, deafening.

Anne Sofie von Otter is magnificent in four different roles. She augments the predestination: The winner is known.

Composer: Franz Schubert, arr. Hector Berlioz
Work: Erlkönig
Recording: Anne Sofie von Otter, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado

#95 The Smell of Sadness

Silent grief: all dead, all dead. Gone are flowers, gone is love. Decent lamentations.

Netrebko keeps the serene way. She's not exalted, yo can smell the resigned sadness in her voice. It's not but it should be raining outside.

Composer: Vincenzo Bellini
Work: La sonnambula, "Ah! Non credea mirarti"
Recording: Anna Netrebko, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

#93 The Smell of Ice Window

You're looking through a window pane. The landscape is lateral and before you're able to fully perceive it, the pane gets it own artwork. Ice is drawing complicated surreal shapes, you're trapped in them, trying to catch the glimpse of the real world–but what is real?

Wang is the one who can draw these shapes, precisely and with ease. It's a magical world we have a privilege to touch.

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov
Work: Piano Concerto No 2, III. Allegro scherzando
Recording: Yuja Wang, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

#71 The Smell of Rush

Lively and brilliant strings are pushing on, and even in slower or soften moments (3'11'') you can feel how nervous they are. The essential rush is never ending: dance me tonight, dance me to the end of life!

Abbado loosens the reins and let's the music flow. LSO plays boldly and zestfully, there are no limits. A very warming recording.

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Work: Symphony No 4, IV. Saltarello. Presto
Recording: London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado