2013 will herald the start of Giuseppe Verdi s bicentennial year. To kick off the Verdi year, EMI Classics presents the ultimate Verdi box set that celebrates famed Italian composer. Verdi: The Great Operas is a 35-CD set that brings together 16 of Verdi s operatic masterpieces, ranging from his first real success, Nabucco, to his last, Falstaff. Also included are such stalwarts of the repertoire as Aida, La traviata and Rigoletto. Born on October 10, 1813, Verdi s operas are performed in opera houses all over the world and his status as one of the greatest opera composers of all time has never been higher. Some of his music has become absorbed into popular culture from being used in TV adverts and film soundtracks, as well as being performed by the most famous singers of the day in concerts and on records. Some of the best classical artists from the past and present are featured in this luxury set including sopranos Montserrat Caballé, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and Renata Scotto; tenors José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Jon Vickers; mezzo-sopranos Fiorenza Cossotto, Elena Obraztsova and Shirley Verrett, and baritones Piero Cappuccilli, Peter Glossop and Sherrill Milnes, under famous conductors including Carlo Maria Giulini, Herbert von Karajan and Riccardo Muti.