Riccardo Muti

The artistic evolution of the great composer, whose work left an indelible mark in the history of Italian cinema. In this documentary Nino Rota's extraordinary musical production relives in the words of his friends and colleagues. His collaboration with Visconti and Fellini are truly memorable. His movie score and sequences of his performances in theaters all over the world hand us down a full and evocative outline of this outstanding artist.

The Vienna Philharmonic's 2004 New Year's Concert was conducted by Riccardo Muti and featured a traditional program of music by the Strauss family and their contemporaries, performing well-known pieces like the "An der schönen blauen Donau" waltz and the "Radetzkymarsch". The event took place at the Musikverein in Vienna, the orchestra's home, and was broadcast to a massive global audience. It is part of a long-standing tradition of the Vienna Philharmonic to present this concert, which is considered a significant event in the classical music calendar.

A look at the life and work of composer Nino Rota.

Diana Damrau performs the title role of Salieri's opera staged in the Teatro alla Scala in 2004. Riccardo Muti conducts the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus with the cast also including Desirée Rancatore as Semele and Genia Kühmeier as Asterio.

Determined to wed, a foolhardy old man is tricked by his friends into a sham wedding with an impish widow who turns into a harpy -- which subsequently cures his desire to marry in composer Gaetano Donizetti's famous opera buffa. Baritone Alessandro Corbelli plays the title character in this lush 2002 production also starring soprano Eva Mei and tenor Antonino Siragusa, with maestro Gérard Korsten leading the Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Lirico.

The Queen of the Night enlists a handsome prince named Tamino to rescue her beautiful kidnapped daughter, Princess Pamina. Aided by the lovelorn bird hunter Papageno and a magical flute that holds the power to change the hearts of men, young Tamino embarks on a quest for true love, leading to the evil Sarastro's temple where Pamina is held captive. The Pierre Audi production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte was recorded live at the 2006 Salzburger Festpiele.

Austrian classical conductor Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004) was as eccentric and reclusive as he was brilliant, persistently and obstreperously declining to participate in the international music community or business. This set him apart from his more public contemporaries, such as Herbert von Karajan. This biographical documentary attempts to resolve the ambiguities surrounding Kleiber. The product of exhaustive research, it features rare performance footage of Kleiber leading orchestras, and draws on interviews with individuals who knew and worked with the maestro, including Otto Schenk, Riccardo Muti, Michael Gielen and Ioan Holdender. Carlos Kleiber also turns up to conduct a series of illustrative musical excerpts.

It truly is an historic performance. Domingo looking and singing like a god pouring out golden tones; Renato Bruson sounds, like the sublime Verdian Baritone that he was at that time; Nicolai Ghiaurov proves again that he was one of the greatest "Verdi Basses"; Mirella Freni shows that there was more to her than just being Mimi and Susannah-in fact I can remember reading that at the time of the premiere of this production that there were fist fights (not unusual in La Scala's gallery) between Mirella's many fans--between those fans that just wanting her to continue singing the light lyric repertoire that they were use to her singing and those that felt she should and could sing the lyric-spinto repertoire which, of course, she proved that,indeed, she could (She's still singing more than twenty years later). This performance captures some of the best Verdi singers of the time doing dear ole wonderful Giuseppi proud.

Documents the interpretations of Gustav Mahler's compositions by conductors Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Chailly, Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, and Simon Rattle, who detail the special relationship they have with Mahler's work.

For the New Year’s Concert 2018 world-renowned conductor Riccardo Muti returns to conduct the New Year’s Concert for the fifth time. He has conducted the Vienna Philharmonic for over 500 concerts, has a very close connection to the orchestra and is one of the most engaged New Year’s Concert conductors. Italian conductor Muti holds two music directorships: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini. A prolific recording artist, Muti has received dozens of honors, titles, awards and prizes throughout his career.

An excellent performance of this delightful opera. The principals are superb, especially the sisters. Bruscantini as Don Alfonso is past his prime, but he knows and understands the role inside out, so one does not even notice his vocal limitations. Araiza is in top form as Ferrando, and Morris makes virile Guglielmo. The only disappointment is Battle as Despina. Unlike her partners, she does not have feel for the Mozart ensemble, and her vocal mannerisms are totally unbecoming. How the producers allowed that to happen is a mystery. Muti's conducting is terrific, much better than on his La Scala video, where he is uninvolved.

This was Domingo's last set of performances as Otello in La Scala. In spite of his relatively advanced age, he is still in excellent form, both vocally and in terms of stage presence. Nucci is also his usual self, delivering a performance of very high standard. Barbara Frittoli is an excellent Desdemona, in good voice and gives a very moving performance. Muti conducts with great emotion and tight accuracy, conveying the full orchestral drama of the score.

The film is a rendition of Resurrection, Tolstoy’s last novel. It begins with a reading of the beginning of the first part in Naples, in September 2012. It moves on to Berlin, Locarno 2013, Oneglia, Paris, Casalborgone, and it ends in Milan with the beginning of the second part. The places and times change, and so do the people doing the reading. But also, in the middle, real people and voices surface, like Adamo Vergine at his home and Jean François Neplaz in Marseilles. The film searches for the possible faces of Tolstoy’s two protagonists in Oneglia, Procida, and Casalborgone.

Having enjoyed a 50-year musical partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic, Riccardo Muti takes charge of the celebrations for the sixth time in what’s bound to be a uniquely poignant occasion. The concert includes the traditional mix of Austrian classics, featuring music by the Strauss family and ending with the ever-popular By the Beautiful Blue Danube and the foot-stamping Radetzky March. In these uncertain times, the concert looks to send people all over the world a new year's greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace.

Experience what Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti calls “the work of a divine architect” in this special encore presentation of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Recorded live September 18, 2014, at Orchestra Hall during one of the opening programs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2014/15 season, this performance features Muti leading the Orchestra and Chorus and distinguished soloists in one of history’s most powerful and inspiring artistic works. A masterpiece whose staggering influence can be seen across classical music, it concludes with the famous Ode to Joy, which calls for understanding, peace and universal goodwill. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is grateful to an anonymous donor for generously underwriting the recording of this concert in 2014.

New Year's concert 2025 of Vienna Philharmonic with Riccardo Muti.

Verdi: " La forza del destino", overture Martucci: "La canzone dei ricordi" Schubert: The "Great" Symphony No. 8 in C Major, D 944

Riccardo Muti conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's traditional ‘Concert for Europe’, this year at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy. The programme includes excerpts from works by Rossini, Verdi and Brahms.

The Youth Orchestra - Luigi Cherubini conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti performs the Symphony from “I vespri siciliani” by Giuseppe Verdi the “Symphony No. 4” in A major ‘Italiana’ op. 90 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and the “Symphony No. 5” in C minor op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

A concert to celebrate Maestro Muti's 80th birthday, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra from the podium of La Scala in Milan.

Passionate and unconditionally dedicated, Anna Netrebko makes her Salzburg Festival debut as Aida, alongside Francesco Meli as Radamès and Ekaterina Semenchuk as her rival Amneris. Conducted by none other than Verdi expert Riccardo Muti. This performance of Aida is the first operatic staging by award-winning Iranian filmmaker, photographer and video artist Shirin Neshat, known for her critical explorations of gender roles and religious fundamentalism.

Riccardo Muti leads the Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper in this performance of Mozart's opera, recorded live in 1996. The performers include Barbara Frittoli, Angelika Kirchschlager, Angelika Kirchschlager and Michael Schade.

Verdi's opera, performed by the choir and orchestra of the La Scala theatre under Riccardo Muti.

In 2001, the centenary of Verdi's death was commemorated around the world, especially in the composer’s homeland, Italy, where he died on January 27th 1901. La Scala in Milan, where many of Verdi’s greatest works were premiered, marked the anniversary by presenting a new production of Il Trovatore, even though it was first performed in January 1853 in Rome and not in Milan.

TDK presents a recording of Puccini’s heart-breaking opera from one of the best opera houses of the world featuring star tenor José Cura and remarkable soprano Maria Guleghina as the two inseparable lovers. Riccardo Muti, music director of La Scala at the time of this performance, gives full weight to the alternation of social realism and private amatory psychology, of crowds and intimacy, body and spirit. And the director of this Milan production, the famous Italian film director Liliana Cavani, provides it with a realistic setting. Every scene looks like a genre painting, from which Puccini’s psychograms emerge musically. This forms the background for the two outstanding singer actors, who take the lead roles.

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. This 1994 recording, directed by Riccardo Muti, stars Roberto Alagna, Renato Bruson and Andrea Rost.

The story revolves around a Sicilian rebellion against the French, fueled by themes of oppression, freedom, and the personal costs of conflict. The opera explores a love triangle, a troubled father-son relationship, and culminates in a bloody uprising during a wedding celebration.

Live performance from La Scala in Milan. Nabucco was the first production of the theatre's 1986-87 season.

On the occasion of Christmas 2025, from the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City, Maestro Riccardo Muti conducts the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, accompanied by the Guido Chigi Saracini Choir of Siena Cathedral.

The 2004 Opus Arte DVD release of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni (recorded at Teatro alla Scala in 1987) is highly regarded by English-language critics as a definitive "traditional" production, notable for its legendary collaboration between conductor Riccardo Muti and director Giorgio Strehler.

Live from La Scala 1991

Live from La Scala Wednesday 14 December 1988.

The story revolves around a Sicilian rebellion against the French, fueled by themes of oppression, freedom, and the personal costs of conflict. The opera explores a love triangle, a troubled father-son relationship, and culminates in a bloody uprising during a wedding celebration.

Based on a narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott and set against the backdrop of feudal Scotland, "La Donna del Lago" is one of Gioacchini Rossini's finest operas -- yet it's rarely performed. This video gives viewers a rare opportunity to see the work in its entirety. Filmed at Italy's famed Teatro alla Scala in 1992 and staged by German film director Werner Herzog, the opera features vocalists Ricardo Muti and June Anderson in leading roles.

This opera was filmed live at La Scala in 1992. The all-star cast includes Luciano Pavarotti, Samuel Ramey, aolo Coni, Daniela Dessi, Luciana d'Intio, and Alexander Anismov. Riccardo Muti conducts.

Officers Ferrando and Guglielmo are certain that their lovers Dorabella and Fiordiligi are faithful to them, but the cynical Don Alfonso challenges them to a bet that the women will be unfaithful given the chance. The officers thus pretend to go off to war, and return in disguise as Albanian strangers, to woo Dorabella and Fiordiligi incognito. The ladies are initially frosty, but soon warm to their new suitors, spurred on by their maid Despina. Performed at the La Scala Theatre in Milan.

Live from La Scala Friday 22 December 1989

Live from La Scala Wednesday 10 December 2003

Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. This version is conducted by Riccardo Muti at La Scala, Milan.

The 2004 Opus Arte DVD release of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni (recorded at Teatro alla Scala in 1987) is highly regarded by English-language critics as a definitive "traditional" production, notable for its legendary collaboration between conductor Riccardo Muti and director Giorgio Strehler.

Live from La Scala December 7th 1997

Part of Tutto Verdi series - Otello (2008) Salzburg. 'Otello' is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play 'Othello'. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on 5 February 1887.

A groundbreaking production of Verdi's masterpiece and its first video recording. Recorded live in Florence in 1977.

Live performance from Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, March 2011.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni is performed live at the Theater an der Wien in this 1999 production starring Carlos Alvarez in the title role and featuring the music of the Choir and Orchester der Weiner Staatsoper performing under the guiding wand of conductor Riccardo Muti.

Conducted by Riccardo Muti, the master of the Scala in Milan for twenty years, the Verdian melodrama unfolds before our eyes. This Cavani's approach is ageless and excellence is pre-eminent: to start with, the role of Riccardo is played by the wonderful Salvatore Licitra. As for Maria Guleghina, she plays an exceptionally good Amelia. Riccardo Muti proves once again what a wonderful Verdian he is.

Based on a true story, the "Dialogues des Carmelites" sets the life of the Carmelites nuns at the dawn of the French Revolution. “Robert Carsen's production is effective in its simplicity, allowing the drama to speak for itself. Dagmar Schellenberger compellingly conveys Blanche's journey from distress to acceptance… Anja Silja's portrayal of the old Prioress is outstanding, with its disturbing transformation from serene wisdom to terrified, blasphemous, near-madness as death approaches. ...Riccardo Muti and the La Scala orchestra in magnificent form, captured in magnificent sound. Ultimately, it is the final scene, with its multiple executions, that makes or breaks a production of Dialogues. Carsen's allegorical solution is both elegant and deeply moving.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2007

Riccardo Muti conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's traditional ‘Concert for Europe’, this year at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy. The programme includes excerpts from works by Rossini, Verdi and Brahms.

The Youth Orchestra - Luigi Cherubini conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti performs the Symphony from “I vespri siciliani” by Giuseppe Verdi the “Symphony No. 4” in A major ‘Italiana’ op. 90 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and the “Symphony No. 5” in C minor op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

On the occasion of Christmas 2025, from the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City, Maestro Riccardo Muti conducts the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, accompanied by the Guido Chigi Saracini Choir of Siena Cathedral.