A Verdi Gala From Berlin

Filmed on the eve of the 100th anniversary of his death, this delightful tribute to Verdi features the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Claudio Abbado and a stellar array of soloists backed up by the Prague Radio Chorus. As befits a New Year's gala, the program offers sparkling and rousing numbers from Un Ballo in Maschera, Don Carlos, La Traviata and Rigoletto, before segueing to ensemble numbers from all three acts of Falstaff. The festivities conclude to tumultuous applause and a traditional salute to Johann Strauss with Maskenball-Quadrille. Excellent photography, delightful performances (although artists are not given onscreen identification) and a crowd-pleasing repertoire make this a solid choice. Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Reed)