Victor de Sabata is remembered today as one of the greatest conductors of opera, especially Verdi and Puccini, and orchestral music from the 19th and 20th centuries. His famous 1954 recording of Verdi�s terrifying Requiem boasts an unrivalled quartet of soloists. Made five years after Tullio Serafin�s searingly intense Rome Opera House recording (Naxos Historical 8.110159), de Sabata�s interpretation is notable for its expansive speeds and reverential approach. His brilliance in symphonic repertoire can be heard in the Appendix to Disc 2, which includes an evocative Fountains of Rome and the rare 1947 recording of the Prelude to Aida.