Verdi: Preludes, Ballet Music & Opera Choruses, Muti (2-CD)

With his questing spirit, Verdi took an often innovative approach to the choral and orchestral components of his operas. In Nabucco, his first great success, the chorus of the Hebrew slaves became a protagonist, and its "Va, pensiero" became Italy's honorary national anthem. His overtures range from atmospheric introductions, for instance the haunting prelude to La traviata, to full-blown orchestral showpieces, such as the splendid sinfonia that opens La forza del destino.

Verdi Nabucco, “Gli arredi festivi”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Nabucco, “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Abanella, Milan

Verdi I Lombardi alla prima crociata, “Gerusalem!”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi I lombardi alla prima crociata, “O Signore, dal tetto natio”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Ernani, “Evviva!”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
December 1982, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi Ernani, “Esultiamo”
Plácido Domingo Ernani
Mirella Freni Donna Elvira
Nicolai Ghiaurov Don Ruy Gomez de Silva
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
December 1982, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi Ernani, “Un patto!”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Attila, Overture
Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1989, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Attila, “Urli, rapine”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1989, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Attila, “Viva il ré dalla mille foreste”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1989, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Attila, “Del ciel l'immensa volta”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1989, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Attila, “Chi dona luce al cor?”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1989, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Macbeth, “Patria oppressa!”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi Rigoletto, Prelude
Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala
October 1988, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi Rigoletto, “Zitti, ziti, moviamo a vendetta”
Eresto Gavazzi Borsa
Lucio Gallo Marullo
Michele Pertusi Ceprano
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
October 1988, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi Il trovatore, “Anvil Chorus”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1991, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Verdi La forza del destino, “La Vergine degli angeli”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1986, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi La forza del destino, “Compagni, sostiamo”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1986, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi La forza del destino, “Nella guerra, è la follia”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1986, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi La forza del destino, “Rataplan”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
July 1986, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi Messa da Requiem (Requiem Mass), “Sanctus”
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala
June 1987, Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Verdi Aida, “Gloria all’Egitto ad Iside”
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
July 1974, Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London

Verdi Aida, “Triumphal March”
New Philharmonia Orchestra
July 1974, Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London

Verdi Aida, “Ballabile”
New Philharmonia Orchestra
July 1974, Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London

Verdi Aida, “Vieni, o guerriero vindice”
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
July 1974, Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London

Verdi Nabucco, Overture
New Philharmonia Orchestra
February 1978, Kingsway Hall, London

Verdi Macbeth, Prelude & Ballet Music
New Philharmonia Orchestra
July 1976, Kingsway Hall, London

Verdi La battaglia di Legnano, Overture
New Philharmonia Orchestra
January 1977, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London

Verdi Luisa Miller, Overture
New Philharmonic Orchestra
January 1977, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London

Verdi La traviata, Prelude to Act I
Philharmonia Orchestra
July 1980, Kingsway Hall, London

Verdi La traviata, Prelude to Act III
Philharmonia Orchestra
July 1980, Kingsway Hall, London

Verdi I vespri siciliani, “The Four Seasons”
New Philharmonia Orchestra
July 1980, Kingsway Hall, London

Verdi La forza del destino, Overture
New Philharmonia Orchestra
November 1986, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London

Discs: 2
Record Label: Warner
Release Date: January 14, 2013