Macbeth" was Giuseppe Verdi's first attempt at music drama and also the first manifestation of his profound love for Shakespeare's work. Verdi took great pains with this opera, displaying special enthusiasm for it as he concentrated on the main characters of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth and the witches. This recording of Luca Ronconi's production is conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli, who brings fresh color to Verdi's score. The cast, headed by Renato Bruson and Mara Zampieri, are strongly supported by a fine-toned and adaptable chorus who ably meet the demands of Verdi's great "chorus opera.

La Fanciulla Del West is a dramatic opera based on the play of the same name. It tells the story of Minnie, a saloon owner in a California mining camp, and her love affair with a bandit named Dick Johnson. The opera is set during the California Gold Rush and explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption.