“Fuoco di gioia” – at the beginning of Verdi’s Otello, the compatriots of the victorious protagonist cheer his triumphant return to his home port with a vocal “fire of joy”. The opera quote is also the title of this new CD recently recorded by the Bavarian Radio Chorus, together with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester under its chief conductor Ivan Repušić. The opera chorus from Otello begins this selection of famous choruses and instrumental pieces from stage works of Italian belcanto (Verdi), Italian verismo (Leoncavallo, Puccini, Mascagni), Russian opera (Borodin, Glinka, Tchaikovsky), and the romantic operas of Richard Wagner. These very recent recordings from January, February and July 2019 contain well-known and enjoyable melodies that are perfect for singing along to (secretly or otherwise)!

Choruses from stage works have always been a popular component of the repertoire of choirs and choral societies large and small, and most of them function perfectly well when detached from the context of their respective operas; indeed, several reach audiences that may have some reservations about going to see operas in their entirety. The choruses are usually less elaborate than virtuoso arias and scenes, and often feature catchy melodies that can be instantly appreciated and remembered.

In the past, some opera choruses even helped to write political history, one being the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco. It went on to become the hymn of the Risorgimento – the Italian national unification movement at the end of the 19th century.

This new CD from BR-Klassik, with its famous choruses and instrumental numbers from Italian, German and Russian operas, is a musical fireworks display.