Volume 2 with Verdi and Muti

 

As far as I can see, the only problem with Part II is...

... the opera preludes here are all short and rather inconsequential, where even the full overtures are brief, and from lesser known operas.

That is why it is probably best to get the two individual recordings together. Vol. II includes Rigoletto and Macbeth, among some others, as well as later Act preludes from operas featured in Volume 1, also covered on this blog.

Be that as it may, the La Scala Philharmonic sounds much more engaged compared to the first volume. The timpanist really relishes his moments here, and the mood setting is divine.

As an individual recording, this is more a complement to the first volume, and best of all, could be paired with Muti and La Scala's recordings of Verdi's opera choruses and ballet music on EMI/Warner. Someone at Sony should really have compiled all of these together, otherwise it is confusing with all of the mismatched recordings.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Il Due Foscari: Prelude (2.38)
La Forza del Destino: Act III Prelude (3.56)
Un Ballo in Maschera: Act II Prelude (2.43)
Rigoletto: Prelude (2.29)
Oberto: Overture (5.54)
Macbeth: Prelude (3.14)
Il Finto Stanislao: Overture (5.23)
I Masnadieri: Prelude (4.53)
I Lombardi: Act III Scene 3 (4.18)
Il Corsaro: Prelude (2.46)
Alzira: Overture (5.51)
Ernani: Prelude (3.01)
Stiffelio: Overture (9.50)

Performers
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, conductor

Label: Sony
Year: 1997
Total Timing: 52.04

 

 

This recording is more of a complement to Volume 1, offering a few well-known operas, but mostly shorter preludes.

On its own, this recording makes for rather short measure, even if Muti and La Scala are excellently tuned into this music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Verdi recordings HERE!