CD REVIEW – VERDI CHORUSES
CORO E ORCHESTRA DEL
THEATRO ALLA SCALA
RICCARDO CHAILLY
Decca 485 3950 [65:02]

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With five of his earlier albums having appeared here, regular readers already know of my admiration for (not just in my opinion) the world's numero uno conductor Riccardo Chailly and his Milan opera house pit band. This latest release is rather special as it celebrates the Italian maestro's 70th birthday and 45 years since he both made his debut at La Scala, where he has been Music Director since 2017, and first signed his exclusive contract with Decca.

The Scala Theatre Orchestra is joined by the Scala Theatre Chorus, under Chorus Director Alberto Malazzi, for 16 choruses from nine Verdi operas. Some will be familiar, like the Triumphal Scene from Aida, the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco, the Witches' Chorus from Macbeth, and the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore. Others will be less well-known; all cover a vast range of circumstances and attitudes.

Although I am not a great fan of the total opera experience, I hope that light music buffs will not ignore this album with its strong melodies – after all, that's what we are about – with Chailly and his top-notch forces demonstrating their mastery of and delight in performing Verdi's works that can only be described as thrilling.

While Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) apparently did not go out of his way to endear himself to people, music like this ensures his place in the pantheon of the all-time great composers. Certainly, Chailly and company do him and themselves proud. Every happiness, Maestro!

© Peter Burt 2023