Rating: 
Summary: Aida / Millo / Domingo
Review: I second the comment of the last reviewer ,rockyshore-81 from Phoenix. I am a newbie to opera and my Aida (Pavaroti/SF Opera House) was listened to only a couple of times. Millo likely was not that warmed up in the beginning but by the time of Scene 2 "Che veggo...pugnai" I had to sit up realising that she must be somebody as she was very prominent among Milnes & Domingo. Her solo in Act 3 "Qui Ramamis...' further confirmed what I was suspecting. Apparently the whole cast, orchestra and audience were listening. And after that, the whole Met audience went nuts. The final curtain calls can only be described as an emotional tribute to Millo and she reciprocated. Really unfortunate that she does not have too many recordings/dvd likely on health/voice ground. Tough life to be an opera diva, I believe. No doubt I urge everybody to get this dvd.
Rating:
Summary: A Keeper!!
Review: I have just ordered 2 additional videos! I RARELY do that! If you want Grand Opera at its Grandest this is the video for you. I reviewed Aida with Loren playing Aida but Tebaldi singing the notes. This video contains ALL the notes - every gorgeous one. I have been searching for a soprano who could do pianissimos like Tebaldi to no avail - UNTIL now. Millo is ravishing! The end of "Oh Patria Mia.." is just what I had in mind. You really have to hear this!! And "..Padre a costoro schiava non sono.." will tear (double entendre) you up!! The entire cast is far above average! I saw this first on PBS while channel surfing in 1990. I heard a voice that reminded me of Tebaldi - so - of course I had to stop and listen (to see if what I thought I heard was true - it was!) At the end of the performance(TV) I was disappointed I hadn't heard it from the beginning. Now, with this video I get to hear ALL of this beautiful opera over & over. To those Tebaldi fans out there who have been bemoaning the fact that Renata is no longer singing and long to hear a seemingly effortlessly done pianissimo, Aprile Millo is the voice that delivers "that sound" we've been craving. It's a pity she doesn't seem to have done many videos or records/cds. Does anyone know what Millo is doing now??? The Amneris in this offering (Zijack) is fantastic! For the first time I found myself crying more for her than Aida!! The trial of Rhadames and Amneris' reaction to it was/is simply spellbinding!! Truly a valued addition to any collection of top notch performances of this opera.
Rating:
Summary: As Good as it Gets.
Review: I have written a number of reviews for Amazon - as in line with Shirley Bassey and Scooby Doo - This as Good as it gets!!I have seen a number of Aida's but would have sold my soul to have see this one live at the Met. However, I watched Dolora Zajick's Amneris at Covent Garden and she was as wonderful as her portryal here - at the House I shouted myself hoarse at her portrayal - mind you I did too when I watched this DVD. Domingo is perfect as Radames and Aprile Millo has done nothing better. What an emotional scene it is when Amonasro (Sherrill Milnes) holds his chained hands up in in passion at the climax of Act II. The sound and picture are perfect - the production is exemplary - this is the best Aida you are likely to see or hear. I emplore you to buy it. You really will not regret it. As I said at the start - This is as Good as it Gets! Perfect in fact.
Rating: 
Summary: So so performance.
Review: I know that this my opinion will distract out but I don't think this one is the best "Aida" available on DVD. I like Alla Scala's the "Aida" with Pavarotti much more. Despite of everything, despite of terribly fatty Pavarotti hardly moves on the stage, despite of overloaded stage with huge pieces of noising decorations moved by "slaves" over all performance, despite of everything I like it more. Domingo is not on his best, his voice in many places on the edge his abilities, he breath too loud, in some places he just almost shout etc. He moves too much, he is looking in the "uniform" like Turkish policeman on the beach. He doesn't look strong, he doesn't sound strong, and he is not convincing. I think he got this role this only by his name: there were a lot of singers who had been able to sing much better. Sorry, it is Aida, it must be the perfect Italian "belle canto", but it is not.
Pavarotti does make his Radomes perfect "belle canto"!
The stage decorations make me think that somebody has tried to cover the empty places with something. Everything is flat, no deepness like with Alla Scala, and no fantasy.
Sorry, the ladies sound very nice, but forgive me again I don't think that such Aida would be the lovely women that I will fall in love so much that would betray to my "Patria". Sorry but Aida must be performed by young and attractive women, except for the case it is production was labeled "for senior audience" but it isn't. I do like enjoying the performance, other way I would buy the CD.
The only person who on his place is Milnes: he always is brilliant, convincing and wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Aida
Review: I was puzzled by some negative reviews here and decided to take a chance on this DVD and was glad I did. While not offering the very latest in DVD sound or image resolution, this performance is sufficiently powerful and the stereo sound sufficiently satisfying to convey the essence of a classic MET production. I was amused by the somewhat wooden behavior of the chorus but then waddiya want? MTV? Relax and enjoy a musically smashing performance. The camera work does get close enough to see facial expressions adequately, the MET orchestra is of course perfection as is the conducting. If a performance here or there is a little "off" it's OK with me, I jest settle back and let Aida blow me away! And it did!
Rating:
Summary: Buy the VHS tape instead
Review: I'm reviewing primarily for the DVD production quality (not performance). Great performance but picture/audio quality comparable to VHS. Doesn't utilise any of the enhancements offered on DVD. The picture quality has not been remastered nor the sound -it is Dolby Stereo! A real disappointment, what a wasted opportunity. DG could have really showcased opera on DVD. If you must, buy the video instead (you'll get 90% of the audio/video quality). I for one will not be wasting any more money on DG's DVDs. I hope they get their act together soon -I'm sure I'm not the only classical music fan who has spent thousands on home theater just to play movies.
Rating:
Summary: Brava Ladies, brava Metropoliten!!!
Review: Let me start with what I like on this DVD. First of all this is magnificent production of Verdi's masterpiece in great traditions of Metropoliten Opera. Nothing is knew about it. One can see huge decorations, splendid, brilliant second act and of course amazing performance buy Met's chorus and orchestra. What is knew on this tape is two female performers, who now are very well known but in 1980 not much was known about them: Aprile Millo, Aida, she is really fantastic, I can say that I've never seen such a convincing performance of Aida from the times of Price and Caballe, she is the Aida of last two decades. What about Dolora Zaijick? This dramatic mezzo-soprano is totally outstanding, her singing is so great, so dramatic, full of passion, people can not stop shouting 'brava, brava' at the end of the judgement scene... really wonderfull, makes you cry. Her voice gives you impression of both Fiorenzza Cossotto and Elena Obraztsova, two in one. I think she is the best mezzo of modern opera.
The weakeness of this night is Domingo's singing, every time he sings, you want to hear more, his voice is so sweet, so passionate, but it won't make you cry. For me if performer doesn't make you cry, it means that something is not quite correct. Maybe that night Domingo's voice was not in the best condition.
In Total, I give to the performance 5 stars, and I should say that it is must have, I saw it on VHS too, but on DVD it is much better.
Rating:
Summary: Good classic grand opera magnificence
Review: Now this is grand opera in every sence of the word. Placido Domingo was so good that I almost fell down on the floor. This again proves to me that he is the best tenor of the last 30 years. His tone, understanding of the text, phrasing, feeling for the part are something I haven't heard before (with the possible exception of Jon Vickers). Hearing him sing in the Nile Scene with Aprile Millo about leaving his home land where he grew up and grown to love was so heartfelt and beautiful. And equally good was Millo. Her Aida was so sensitive. She really made the character sweet and commanding. Her soft high notes are also so beautiful. She has the best of what makes a great Aida. Dolora Zajick was also extremely good. She had the right chest notes and high notes to make Amneris menacing, touching and someone to feel for. At the end we not only feel for the convicted couple, but also for Amneris. It was only Sherrill Milnes that was not quite as good as the others. His acting is equally exemplary as the others, but the notes often are delivered with a little unsteadyness (he is past his prime). I don't mind a little unsteadyness, though, so he was good enough for me. He was magnificent on the Trovatore set with Metha, Price and Domingo, but this is 15 years later. Levine's conducting is well balanced and very sensitive. The production was exctremely good. It's good to see an opera with sets that are so good as this and authentic too. The sound was good and so was the picture. The uncompressed linear PCM sound really made it sound like we were there. I am glad that the producers of opera on DVD present the uncompressed sound, since the compressed Dolby Digital 2 track sound sounds so terrible. This is a great performance for all Aida fans and Domingo fans.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to beat this Aida
Review: Oh my gosh what a spectical with nothing to fault. Aida cannot be better performed. For what room there is on a stage utterly unbelievabale and with live horses as well. 20 or so years ago I saw a performance at the Hartford Civic Center with a lot of animals Elephants, Tigers etc. etc. This is a star studded cast in depth. The costumes , effects and staging are without par. The visual and aural senses keep one glued to their seat. All in all well done. The singing is first rate Domingo is in great form but it would be meaningless without all the other principals. In total all were outstanding contributing to a synergy unrivaled anywhere or in any House. The final scene and the final words of the Princess, her face superimposed to the right of the tomb scene sent goose bumps cascading through by being. Magnificent.
Rating:
Summary: Age inappropriate
Review: Opera is intended to be seen - a true multi-media art. But a fascinatingly perfect stage setting aside, this is one production better heard than seen. Sonically, the performances please, but this rates as one of the more visually disturbing casts I have witnessed.
A 58-year-old Plácido Domingo is simply unconvincing as a young soldier. Aprile Millo, as a well-fed version of the Ethiopian slave girl (in ridiculous black face), Aida, defies the costumers' best attempts to provide a waist line. And Dolora Zaijick mirrors a middle-aged matron more than the Egyptian princess Amneris.
A fine performance by the ballet troup only draws attention to age and fitness disparities. Like an emperor, the Metropolitan Opera stands as a respected authority. Perhaps this is the impetus behind overenthusiastic curtain calls which prolong the end of each act, but the emperor has no clothes - or at least they need ironing.
These are the type of miscastings which turn neophytes off to the idea of opera. Huge fans of these performers who can suspend disbelief may well be pleased, but those craving contextually appropriate performances will find this one age inappropriate.
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