Riccardo Muti Conducts Italian Masterworks

“No living conductor knows more about these scores and their historical context, has a closer regard for textual fidelity or a more practiced understanding of how to bring them to dramatic life on stage than Muti.” — Chicago Tribune

Overtures, choruses and intermezzos drawn from masterworks by Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni and Boito, brilliantly performed by Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Muti has presented these works numerous times over his career, including countless performances during his tenure as music director of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The performances heard on this album were presented as Maestro's final concerts of the 2016–17 season. This album presents a virtuosic showcase of nineteenth-century Italian music in all its passion, joy and heartbreak.

Verdi Nabucco, Overture
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Verdi Nabucco, “Gli arredi festivi”
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Duain Wolfe director
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Verdi Macbeth, “Patria oppressa!”
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Duain Wolfe director
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Verdi I vespri siciliani, Overture
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Puccini Manon Lescaut, Intermezzo
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Mascagni Cavalleria rusticana, Intermezzo
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Boito Mefistofele, Prologue
Riccardo Zanellato bass
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Duain Wolfe director
Chicago Children’s Choir
Josephine Lee president & artistic director
June 2017, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Discs: 1
Record Label: CSO Resound
Release Date: December 7, 2018

Digital Download Audio Quality: MP3, 320kbps