Riccardo Muti turns 80 on July 28, 2021. In honor of the Maestro, WFMT is spending the entire day celebrating his legacy in Chicago music. We’ll share an array of recordings conducted by Muti, the CSO’s music director since 2010, and even a birthday greeting or two from some esteemed colleagues.
Happy 80th Birthday, Maestro Muti!

Playlist
All selections conducted by Riccardo Muti
6:20 am — R. Strauss: “Neapolitan Life” from Aus Italien
Berlin Philharmonic
7:30 am; Carl’s Almanac — Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
7:35 am — Verdi: “La donna e mobile” from Rigoletto
Roberto Alagna, tenor; La Scala Philharmonic
8:05 am — Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Philadelphia Orchestra
9:35 am — Orff: “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana
Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra
9:40 am — Suppé: Light Cavalry Overture
Vienna Philharmonic
10:15 am — Rota: The Leopard film music
La Scala Philharmonic
11:00 am — Respighi: Fountains of Rome
Philadelphia Orchestra
3:35 pm — Prokofiev: Four Movements from Romeo and Juliet
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
4:40 pm — Berlioz: “A Ball” from Symphonie Fantastique
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
5:25 pm — Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat
Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Philharmonia Orchestra
6:00 pm — Josef Strauss: Viennese Frescoes Waltz
Vienna Philharmonic (New Year’s in Vienna 2018)