Pavarotti's legendary 1995 gala concert is on DVD at long last.
It was recorded at a VE Day charity concert in London's Royal Albert Hall.
Decca has carefully restored the recording in which not only is the great tenor at his peak with artistry and personality, but he also introduces 10 fine opera colleagues in arias and duets.
Previously a double CD was available, and all the Pavarotti solo items were once issued on a single album, but there have been no reissues until this disc, with the added bonus of excellent video coverage conveying the musical excitement of the occasion.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (conductor Leone Magiera) provides the accompaniment. Puccini, Verdi, Gounod, Leoncavallo, Tchaikovsky, Donizetti are all featured.
Highlight: Pavarotti's glorious voice in its prime.
Conductor Claudio Abbado fostered more than a dozen wonderful new orchestras or ensembles. Here he conducts his hand picked Orchestra Mozart, established in 2004.
It became a ''fountain of youth'' for Abbado in the final years of his life (he died last year). He was a master interpreter of a wide repertoire, but, finally, it was the music of the Viennese masters Mahler, Mozart and Schubert that were his major triumphs.
This recording of Schubert's ''Great'' is constructed from live performances given at the Bologna Auditorium Manzoni and the Bolzano Auditorium in Italy in September 2011.
Abbado observed all repeats, so the symphony lasted over 60 minutes.
He explores its greatness in all respects: lyricism, eloquent phrasing, affectionate and aristocratic playing.
Highlight: Tribute to Schubert's monumental work.
