The present re-release contains the premiere of the new Don Carlo production from October 1970 in Vienna. The occasion was marked by a great scandal caused by Karajan’s fans, who expected their idol to conduct the new production. Karajan, however, entrusted German conductor Horst Stein with the new production and, although Stein – by then for several years repertoire conductor with the Vienna State Opera – had until then been, a favourite of the local audience, on this occasion he was greeted at the curtain call with a torrent of boos, which were completely unrelated to his artistic performance. The singers, by contrast, were cheered to the rafters; the house had hand-picked the cast for this production, right down to the smallest role.

The booklet offers detailed information about the scandal and indignation surrounding the premiere, together with archive photographs of the stage set.

Re-issue of a bestseller (formerly C649053) from the ORFEO catalogue.

Cast:
- Filippo II: Nicolai Ghiaurov
- Don Carlo: Franco Corelli
- Rodrigo: Eberhard Waechter
- Il Grande Inquisitore: Martti Talvela
- Un Frate: Tugomir Franc
- Elisabetta di Valois: Gundula Janowitz
- La Principessa d’Eboli: Shirley Verrett
- Tebaldo: Edita Gruberova
- Il Conte di Lerma: Ewald Aichberger
- La Voce dal cielo: Judith Blegen