Passion, precision and fidelity to the score have always been hallmarks of Riccardo Muti’s interpretations. After studies in Naples, where he was born in 1941, and in Milan he rapidly built a major international reputation. His 1967 victory in the Guido Cantelli Conducting Competition soon led to an appointment as Music Director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. In 1971, at Herbert von Karajan’s invitation, he made his debut with the Wiener Philharmoniker at the Salzburg Festival, and 1973 ushered in his decade as Principal Conductor and Music Director of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra (known as the New Philharmonia Orchestra when he assumed the post). Lengthy tenures as Music Director followed with The Philadelphia Orchestra (1980-1992) and the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Milano (1986-2005).This collection bears witness to all these notable musical relationships, and to Muti’s status as an honoured guest with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. His illustrious career has encompassed both concert hall and opera house, but this landmark 91CD set focuses on his recordings of orchestral, choral and vocal works. Spanning the years from 1973 to 2007 and encompassing a rich and varied repertoire, it also features an audio documentary, made in 2020, celebrating his outstandingly productive period with the Philharmonia.

Artists

Teresa Berganza (mezzo-soprano), Lucia Valentini Terrani (mezzo-soprano), New Philharmonia Chorus, Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Andrei Gavrilov (piano), Catherine Malfitano (soprano), Agnes Baltsa (mezzo-soprano), Robert Gambill (tenor), Gwyne Howell (bass), Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (opera company), Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Gidon Kremer (violin), Gösta Winbergh (tenor), Arleen Auger (soprano), Rundfunk Chor Stockholm, Stockholmer Kammerchor, Alexis Weissenberg (piano), Philharmonia Chorus, Maurice André (trumpet), Patrizia Pace, Waltraud Meier (mezzo-soprano), Franck Lopardo, James Morris (bass-baritone), Cheryl Studer (soprano), Dolora Zajick (mezzo-soprano), Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Samuel Ramey (bass), Teatro alla Scala (opera company), London Philharmonic Chorus, Dolores Ziegler, Peter Seiffert (tenor), The Westminster Choir, Kyung Wha Chung (violin), I Solisti dell’Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Westminster Choir College Male Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Swedish Radio Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Riccardo Muti