Verdi - Aida / Caball? ? Domingo ? Cossotto ? Ghiaurov ? Cappuccilli ? Roni ? NPO ? Muti
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Free Music Notes for Verdi - Aida / Caball? ? Domingo ? Cossotto ? Ghiaurov ? Cappuccilli ? Roni ? NPO ? Muti
Free Music Review: One of the best!
Hit: 5 Stars
Everytime I hear this recording of "Aida", I get carried away by the wonderful music and the equally magnificent interpretations of the singers. Caballe, Domingo, Cossotto, Ghiaurov and Cappuccilli sing wonderfully and leave me breathless.Caballe sings the part of Aida perfectly and with dramatic tension. Just listen to her "Ritorna vincitor!" and to the duet with her father, ideally portrayed by Cappuccilli (I also admire Gobbi's interpretation of the role).
Placido Domingo gives us one of his best perfomances as Radames, the Egyptian general who falls in love with the poor Ethiopian slave. His "Celeste Aida" is one of the highlights of this performance.
Fiorenza Cossotto gives an equally good performance of Amneris, the Egyptian princess. Her duet with Radames in the last act can give you a good impression of her vocal and dramatic abilities.
Te rest of the cast is very good too. I admire Ghiaurov's unique bass voice as well as Cappuccilli's. Muti conducts in tempo and appropriately.
I recommend this recording as a must-have "Aida" for every opera lover who respects himself.
Free Music Review: Get this one!
Hit: 5 Stars
After doing some research on the different versions of this opera available out there, I decided to purchase this one. The box has "great recordings of the century" written on the side, and they're definitely not kidding. I don't know if it's the best one ever made, but it's certainly close. There's absolutely no weakness in this version, it has everything. First, this is possibly the best cast version in terms of the soloists, Caball? is beyond belief in the title role, with her beatiful singing and her trademark pianissimos. Domingo's voice is perfect for Radam?s, and he sings his heart out throughout. Ghiaurov is a dignified and magnificent Ramfis, and he posseses one of the most unusual and unique bass voices I have ever heard. The rest of the cast, composed of Cossotto, Cappuccilli and Roni are all magnificent as well in their respective roles. In short, this version features some of the best singers of the past century, at the pinnacle of their careers.Of course, you have to mention the conductor. Muti is one of the top Verdi conductors of our time, and he does a marvelous job in this one. The sound of the orchestra is always crisp and beautiful, a perfect balance of grandeur and delicacy. As it says in the CD's booklet, the singers in this version (or at least Placido Domingo) consider a piano rehearsal with Muti quite an experience. The choral parts are also very well crafted.
To sum it up, if you're an opera buff, this is probably a title of which you'll want more than one version. This one is definitely a must in your collection, and if you were to pick only one recording of this opera to listen to for the rest of your life, I'd recommend this one.
Free Music Review: One of the best Aida
Hit: 5 Stars
This new remastered Cd (excellent sound from Abbey Road studios) is probably THE Aida worth bying becuase of Mutis conducting and an absolutly fantastic Caball?. Domingo is also great... well EVERYBODY is absolutly top.This is a mid price record but no full price Aida records could match this one more than maybe Abbados on DG, but then you miss Caball?s fantastic voice on Abbados DG version.
You get five of operas top singers on this one and as mentioned above... Muti is great with Verdi and its no coincidence he rules La Scala.
Considering this great cast and great perforformance togheter with excellent sound and a more than a fair price, this is my choice for Aida, if I has to choose ONE.
If you still prefer DG sound as I normally do and DDD go for Abbado but this remastered EMI version has a fantastic sound too and give full justice to a GREAT opera, as Aida in my opinion is (one of Verdis must have), to all great singers and to a great orchestra.
Free Music Review: At last - the Aida of choice becomes affordable
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't remember how long I've wanted this CD for, but it's always been pricy - thank goodness for this affordable release. For me this is the Aida of choice though in a field with many, many good recordings I can hardly claim this to be true of everyone. For a start, this is a big house, big sound recording. The quality is excellent but it could never be mistaken for a chamber opera. The orchestral playing is big, big, big which isn't thye same as loud, loud, loud. The sound is always opulent and Muti's tempi are wonderfully judged - there never seems to be a rush or a hiatus, and the dance music is as interesting as I've heard it. Choral singing is always exemplary. Truly a benchmark for Verdi conducting.
But Aida stands and falls by its soloists, in particular the ladies, and this one stands. Caballe has it all - a steely edge for the big moments and for riding the ensembles (something I've always missed about Price), a phenomenal dynamic range that noone before or since has matched (who wouyldn't kill to produce a top C like hers in the Nile Aria?) and an overwhelming sense of sadness that comes across infallibly in her solo moments. Some might wish for a bigger voice for an Aida but surely noone could imagine a more vivid and fascinating one. Fiorenza Cossotto sounds unnervingle like Caballe especially in her big moments - the Act 2 Scene 1 duet is a good case in point and makes fascinating listening. But she holds her own especially in the trial scene and sounds fresher than many an Amneris whilst lacking nothing in fullness of tone. Domingo's Radames is well known - less imaginative than a Vickers, less beautiful than a Corelli, but always noble and committed. Cappucilli is a stern and scary Amonasro, no match for his daughter in subtlety but not to be trifled with, whilst the reat of the cast is well in place.
Yes, I feel that this is the Aida to have especially for fanbs of Caballe. But for Price-worshippers, Callas-worshipers, Vickers-worshippers and their ilk - you may be looking elsewhere.