Verdi la Traviata

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. His works are frequently performed in opera houses throughout the world and, transcending the boundaries of the genre, some of his themes have long since taken root in popular culture…

This CD box features Maria Callas, the unrivaled "prima donna assoluta," in her parade roles. Especially in Italian bel canto operas of the 18th and 19th centuries, the opera diva could shine like no other. Hear five grandiose recordings from the 1950s and enjoy the unique voice of one of the greatest stars of all time: - Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - Vincenzo Bellini: Norma - Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata - Giacomo Puccini: Tosca - Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana.

Rising star Aleksandra Kurzak is a Polish coloratura soprano who tackles a diverse repertoire of arias on her 2011 Decca debut. Beginning with Rossini, Kurzak's "Una voce poco fa" demonstrates her power, solid technique, and unique dark vocal color. Her sound is clean, and she is clearly a wonderful musician, as she gives careful attention to each phrase and score marking: she is not simply a singer with a good, big sound.

An acclaimed and versatile conductor, Carlo Maria Giulini started his musical studies as a violinist, attending the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. He studied conducting with Bernardino Molinari at Santa Cecilia and Alfredo Casella at Accademia Chigiana in Siena. After graduation, he joined the Augusteo Orchestra in Rome as a violist. As an orchestral musician, he came in contact with the great conductors of the time, including Strauss, Mengelberg, Walter, Klemperer, and Furtwängler.

Maestro Marek Janowski, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo and the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir present Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (1859), together with a stellar cast, headed by Freddie De Tommaso (Riccardo), Lester Lynch (Renato) and Saioa Hernández (Amelia). Un ballo in maschera is Verdi’s tragicomic masterpiece, in which the composer skilfully switches gears between the light and tragic, as well as between his earlier and more mature style. As such, it is both an entertaining and highly sophisticated work.

Plácido Domingo, one of the greatest opera singers of all time, and one of the few classical musicians who can genuinely be considered a household name, is 70 in January 2011.In 2010 he proved he is still going strong through incredible performances of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at Covent Garden, his first performance as a baritone. He also appeared in the extremely popular live televised performances of Rigoletto. In his own words “If I rest I rust”!