Sir Edward Downes is one of the most distinguished Verdi authorities in the world. His lifetime of experience in the opera house, where he has performed all Verdi's operas, tells throughout these performances. The collection programmes all Verdi's Preludes, Overtures and Ballet Music in chronological order. Each disc contains a mixture of well-known and less familiar music. This popular four-disc set is now re-issued in the Chandos Classics mid-price series. (Previously available on CHAN9787, now discontinued)