The overtures and preludes by Richard Wagner not only are masterly composed openings to his dramatic works - as independent pieces they are also among the most popular compositions of the 19th century. For the first studio record of the new label Philharmonia Records general music director of the Opernhaus Zurich and the Philharmonia Zurich Fabio Luisi made his personal selection: it leads from the early overtures to Die Feen and Das Liebesverbot, in which Wagner still was oriented towards paragons such as Berlioz or Meyerbeer, through masterpieces as the preludes to Lohengrin and Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and the famous Walkurenritt up to the mystically transfigured prelude from Parsifal. The record offers a cross section through Richard Wagner's orchestral work and presents one of the most distinguished European opera orchestras - the Philharmonia Zurich.