Verdi - Aida / Levine, Domingo, Millo, Metropolitan Opera

Rating:
Summary: "Aida" Exemplary of Metropolitan At Its Best
Review: "Aida" is a magnificent opera that requires complete suspension of belief to be truly enjoyed. That said, this 1989 production has all of the elements that historically make the Metropolitan Opera one of the world's best. The sets and costumes are opulent, the staging is impressive and the dancers and chorus are essential in bringing what is essentially a series of musical tableaux to life. And the singing is pure Met. The Met is all about "La Voce" and Domingo, Millo, and Zajick are all voice. Aprile Millo is incredibly believable as Aida, bringing firey passion, sublime musicality and vocal inspiration to this difficult spinto role. Dolora Zajick is a formidable Amneris, who uses her strong mezzo voice and musical sensitivity to bring the essence of Pharoah's impassioned daughter into the hearts of the audience. Placido Domingo is simply himself. He sings with articulation, power and intensity, and that's just fine. There are a few "oops" that keep this DVD from being perfect such as awkward angles, subtitles covering up a performer now and then, and the overall static nature of the production. But it is still wonderful viewing, and a wonderful artifact of the Levine era Met. Decades from now it will serve as a tangible reminder of some of the great voices of the late 20thC. This DVD is a treasure.

Rating:
Summary: "Aida" Exemplary of Metropolitan At Its Best
Review: "Aida" is a magnificent opera that requires complete suspension of belief to be truly enjoyed. That said, this 1989 production has all of the elements that historically make the Metropolitan Opera one of the world's best. The sets and costumes are opulent, the staging is impressive and the dancers and chorus are essential in bringing what is essentially a series of musical tableaux to life. And the singing is pure Met. The Met is all about "La Voce" and Domingo, Millo, and Zajick are all voice. Aprile Millo is incredibly believable as Aida, bringing firey passion, sublime musicality and vocal inspiration to this difficult spinto role. Dolora Zajick is a formidable Amneris, who uses her strong mezzo voice and musical sensitivity to bring the essence of Pharoah's impassioned daughter into the hearts of the audience. Placido Domingo is simply himself. He sings with articulation, power and intensity, and that's just fine. There are a few "oops" that keep this DVD from being perfect such as awkward angles, subtitles covering up a performer now and then, and the overall static nature of the production. But it is still wonderful viewing, and a wonderful artifact of the Levine era Met. Decades from now it will serve as a tangible reminder of some of the great voices of the late 20thC. This DVD is a treasure.

Rating:
Summary: Horrible performance
Review: 5 stars for this DVD? You can't be serious! The production and stage settings must have cost millions, but the artistic content? I was a great admirer of Domingo when he was at his best, like in the video of La Traviata. Here in Aida his voice is flat and lacking in warmth. I can accept a fat Aida with shoe polish in her face if she sings like a goddess, but such is not the case here. And if you have heard Cossotto sing Amneris, a performance such as we have in this Aida falls flat on it's face. There is a feeling of coldness in this production and you feel strangely dissatisfied after only a few minutes of viewing. I was a bit disappointed after reading the reviews here because I somehow trusted the taste of the reviewers. If I see 5 stars awarded to another opera DVD, I can no longer be sure that it is a DVD I can order with confidence. Sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful, passionate...An Aida for the ages!
Review: A stunning presentation.

This is the 1989 version of Verdi's Aida performed before a live audience at the Met in New York. It stars Placido Domingo as Radames, Dolora Zajick as Amneris and Aprile Millo as Aida. The orchestra is conducted by James Levine; the video under the direction of Brian Large. The sets were spectacular, immense; the costumes were well done and fairly represented the Egyptian era they were trying to portray.

Placido was at his prime during this presentation, his voice vibrant and powerful. His portrayal of Radames perfectly balanced Millo's Aida, whose sweet voice was able to hold and control those exquisite soft high notes in her aria's and also in her duets with Domingo. Zajick (as Amneris) had some incredible aria's in the second half of this production.

In addition to the singing, the acting was extremely well done; powerful, sincere and passionate. Emotional enough to have the audience giving enthusiastic applause and cheering almost before some of the acts ended; making the show wait until they stopped.

This opera was deemed fit to win an Emmy in 1989 for "Outstanding Classical Program in the Preforming Arts". It's not hard to understand why. With this cast and this setting, it's an Aida for the ages! Highly recommended




Rating:
Summary: Domingo weak as Radames
Review: Although this performance is impressive in its staging etc. The weakness of Domingo in the role of Radames needs to be discussed. A lot of reviewers seem to be listening to a different performance to me.
Domingo is always musically and dramatically convincing but produces some very tight top B flats in Celeste Aida. Listen to Pavarotti (video with Maazel) or Carreras (EMI recording with Karajan) to hear how the role should be sung. Waving arms around with the odd meaningful gesture does not cover up a vocally flawed performance.

Rating:
Summary: Get it
Review: As others have said, the production and performances are top-notch. Aprile Millo is fantastic. What surprised me most though was how the crowd goes increasingly wild as the performance goes on. Truly electrifying.

Rating:
Summary: Muy interesante version.
Review: Del Metropolitan de Nueva York nos llega esta version de 'Aida' filmada en 1989, con un reparto de gran calidad y una produccion visualmente muy atractiva.
En el papel titular, la soprano APRILLE MILLO hace una extraordinaria version vocal de la esclava etíope, a la altura de las mas grandes encarnaciones del papel. Su actuacion es recompensada por el publico con fuertes ovaciones tras cada una de sus arias, y con una ovacion final que la emociona profundamente. Una Aida maravillosa.
PLÁCIDO DOMINGO es un interprete muy inteligente, y, aunque esa noche no estaba todo lo bien que acostumbra en el registro agudo, sabe salvar los escollos de la parte de Radames por la zona alta con inteligencia, y en la central y baja ofrece, como siempre, una voz muy bella, acompañada de una gran entrega escenica.
Un lujo es tener a DOLORA ZAJICK para Amneris, ya que dota al personaje de un gran relieve, y vocalmente esta excepcional, demostrando esa gran artista que hay en ella.
SHERILL MILNES, pese a las ovaciones que recibe, ya era mayor aqui, y su voz ya no esta en su mejor momento, lo que desluce algo su prestacion como Amonasro.
PAATA BURDZULADZE como Ramfis y DIMITRI KARAVAKOS como el Rey de Egipto rinden a un gran nivel. Discreto el 'Mensajero' y bien la Sacerdotisa.
JAMES LEVINE sabe llevar con brio a los conjuntos estables del Met, consiguiendo de su lectura de la obra un gran resultado.
La produccion es visualmente imponente, tanto por la fastuosa escenografia como por la iluminacion y el movimiento de actores; aunque se le pueden reprochar algunos vestidos (especialmente los de Aida y Amneris, que no lucen nada a las dos divas) y lo inadecuado de la coreografia del segundo acto.
En resumen, una 'Aida' que dejara contento a todo aficcionado, ya que reune un reparto de calidad y una produccion vistosa. Para disfrutar viendo una opera poco mas se puede pedir que lo que aqui se da.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent on Video Tape...Amazing on DVD
Review: DG's production of DVD's and Videos are superior to anything put out by Sony (so far - i.e. Karajan series)

Rating:
Summary: Buy it for Act IV
Review: Dolora Zajick's "Amneris", and Aprille Millo's "Aida" are a stunning combination. I teach music to elementary students, and my 5th graders upon watching Act IV of "Aida" asked if we could watch the entire opera. Anything that could have 5th grade boys asking to watch opera has got to have something going for it!!! Domingo is too old (facially) for the role of Radames, but vocally still strong. Watching Sherrill Milnes (Amanasro) is always a treat. He is the consummate professional. Staging, sets and acting are carried out to a "T". It is unlikely that a better video recording of "Aida" is out there!!!

5 operatic stars!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Good performance
Review: Domingo is a little too old for the role as a young captain but his voice is still good. Millo's Aida is not what I expected since I was told that she was great before I bought this DVD. I like Zajick's Amneris and Burchuladze's Ramfis the most in the whole play because of their incredible voices. In general it's a very good performance.