Winner of the 2012 ECHO Award for “Conductor of the Year” and one of the world’s most respected maestros, Riccardo Chailly celebrates Verdi’s bicentenary year – and his own 60th birthday – in 2013 with a disc of overtures, preludes and ballet movements from some of the composer’s best-loved operas.

Adding that extra touch of authenticity, the works are performed by the Filarmonica della Scala – the opera house with which Verdi himself was most closely associated and where Chailly launched his own conducting career, based in the city where Verdi died and Chailly was born.

Long associated with the Filarmonica della Scala, Chailly has previously recorded four Decca albums with them (including discs of Rossini overtures and cantatas), while his Verdi recordings for Decca include the Messa solenne and other rare sacred works, a disc of Verdi Discoveries and a complete Rigoletto starring the late Luciano Pavarotti.

Bringing together a trio of Italian greats – a world-famous composer, a fine orchestra and a first-class conductor – this set will be one of the highlights of Decca’s new releases for the Verdi bicentenary year.