Re-release of a previous ORFEO bestseller (C649053), the present album contains the premiere of the new production of Don Carlo from October 1970 in Vienna. The premiere was surrounded by a great scandal, caused by the Karajan’s fans, who expected their idol to be the conductor. However, Karajan entrusted the German conductor Horst Stein with the premiere. Stein, already for several years repertoire conductor at the Wiener Staatsoper, had until then been actually the favourite of the local audience. This time, however, he was greeted at the curtain call with a torrent of 'boos“ (and with threatening letter prior to the premiere) which were completely unrelated to his artistic performance. The singers, by contrast, were cheered to the rafters. The house had gathered together a cast that was hand-picked right down to the smallest part.

The booklet offers in three languages (English, German and French) detailed information about the new production and the scandal and indignation surrounding the premiere, paired with archive photographs of the stage set.