Verdi: Evviva!? Beviamo! (from Ernani)

Unique men’s professional choir in France, and founded in 1982, it numbers 45 singers. Part of the French Republican Guard, it’s the official choir of the republic of France. The choir regularly performs with the large French symphonic orchestras, under conductors such as Yutaka Sado, Christoph Eschenbach, Pierre Boulez, Michel Plasson, Peter Eötvos.

With his questing spirit, Verdi took an often innovative approach to the choral and orchestral components of his operas. In Nabucco, his first great success, the chorus of Hebrew slaves became a protagonist – and its ‘Va, pensiero’ became Italy’s honorary national anthem – while his overtures range from atmospheric introductions, for instance the haunting prelude to La traviata, to full-blown orchestral showpieces, such as the splendid sinfonia that opens La forza del destino.

This is one of several special EMI Classics releases marking the bicentenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi, which will occur on 10 October 2013.

With his questing spirit, Verdi took an often innovative approach to the choral and orchestral components of his operas. In Nabucco, his first great success, the chorus of Hebrew slaves became a protagonist – and its ‘Va, pensiero’ became Italy’s honorary national anthem – while his overtures range from atmospheric introductions, for instance the haunting prelude to La traviata, to full-blown orchestral showpieces, such as the splendid sinfonia that opens La forza del destino.