Riccardo Muti Conducts Italian Masters (7-CD)

Discs: 7
Record Label: Sony
Release Date: October 27, 2017

“No living conductor knows more about these scores and their historical context . . . or has a more practiced understanding of how to bring them to dramatic life on stage than Muti.” — Chicago Tribune (on Riccardo Muti leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in an all-Italian program, June 2017)

During Riccardo Muti’s 19-year tenure as La Scala’s music director, his relationship with the orchestra extended beyond the opera pit. This 7-disc set celebrates their shared Italian heritage with a mixture of much-loved Verdi overtures, modern classics from Nino Rota and enticing works from the turn of the century by the likes of Casella, Martucci and Busoni.

Contents:

Casella Paganiniana, Op. 65
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra
October–December 1992, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Martucci Notturno, Op. 70, No. 1
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra
October–December 1992, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Martucci Noveletta, Op. 82, No. 2
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra
October–December 1992, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Martucci Prelude, Toccata and Gigue, Op. 61: Gigue
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra
October–December 1992, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Busoni Turandot Suite, Op. 41
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra
October–December 1992, Teatro Abanella, Milan

Martucci La canzone dei ricordi (The Song of Memories)
Mirella Freni soprano
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Martucci Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 66
Carlo Bruno piano
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Ponchielli Elegia
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Catalani Scherzo in A Major
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Catalani Contemplazione
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Puccini Symphonic Prelude in A Major, Op. 1
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Puccini Le Villi, Intermezzo (The Witches’ Sabbath)
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Puccini Capriccio sinfonico
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi La forza del destino, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Attila, Prelude
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Nabucco, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi La traviata, Prelude to Act I
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Giovanna d’Arco, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi La traviata, Prelude to Act III
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi La battaglia di Legnano, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi I masnadieri, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Un ballo in maschera, Prelude to Act I
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Luisa Miller, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Aida, Prelude to Act I
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi I vespri siciliani, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi I due Foscari, Prelude
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi La forza del destino, Prelude to Act III
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Un ballo in maschera, Prelude to Act II
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Rigoletto, Prelude to Act I
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Macbeth, Prelude to Act I
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Un giorno di regno (Il finto Stanislao), Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi I Lombardi alla prima crociata, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Il corsaro, Prelude
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Alzira, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Ernani, Prelude
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Verdi Stiffelio, Overture
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota The Godfather, Waltz
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota 8 ½, “La passarella di addio”
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota La Dolce Vita, “La tromba di Polydor”
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota Prova d’Orchestra, Suite
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota Rocco e I suoi Fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers), Suite
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota Il Gattopardo (The Leopard), Suite
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota La Strada, Ballet Suite
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota Concerto for Strings
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

Rota Il Gattopardo (The Leopard), Ballet Music
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra