The Solti 100th birthday celebration, commemorating this outstanding musician, is the ultimate realization of Solti’s widow, Lady Valerie Solti, and the World Orchestra for Peace that the late conductor founded. A truly marvelous program of works that Solti knew well is carried off by top orchestral players and singers to the delight of those fortunate enough to be in attendance.

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While performed on a practically bare stage, this production of Verdi’s infrequently played I Vespri Siciliani receives superb singing and musical direction.

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Rigoletto, one of Verdi’s most popular operas, receives a Teatro di Regio Parma production that is beautifully shot but suffers from the vocal inadequacies of some of its principals.

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Il Trovatore receives an understaged and mostly undersung performance from the Teatro Regio di Parma. Headliner Marcelo Alvarez is the main reason to watch this Blu-ray, but unfortunately, he is also the only reason to watch it.

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The 2011 Rossini Festival gives us a marvelous Blu-ray premiere of a rare masterpiece by one of opera’s greatest composers. Cast, conductor, and director are firing on all cylinders with this one making it an easy recommendation for opera lovers.

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Part of the Tutto Verdi series from C Major, this is a seldom-performed minor masterpiece with a terrific score.The opera receives a strong performance with this 2012 Teatro Verdi Trieste production and gives viewers an opportunity to see a work that will be unlikely to receive a staging outside of Italy.

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One of Verdi’s least performed operas, Il Corsaro receives a good if not great rendering by the Parmese forces and the principal soloists helped by the baton of maestro Montanaro.

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Luisa Miller falls into Verdi’s middle period and, unlike other operas from that era, is an uneven work, both musically and dramatically. This 2006 performance has a number of strong contributions from its principal singers and musical director who do their best to make a case for this opera.

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Alzira, a rarely heard early Verdi opera, receives its Blu-ray premiere with this concert performance from C Major. Uneven singing and the lack of staged drama undermine the impact of this production.

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A real rarity, Verdi’s I Masnadieri presents a strong score well handled by cast and orchestra in this performance from the Teatro di San Carlo. The only snag in an otherwise worthy production is the bizarre staging and costume design.

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