Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67671 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-11-21
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Italian, German, English, French
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 142 minutes

Customer Reviews

An astonishing Aida; smaller is better!
I agree with the earlier reviewer's five star assessment of this production. What a joy to hear and see an "Aida" in which the singers (coached by Carlo Bergonzi!) are young and excellent, both vocally and dramatically, and who are allowed to sing in an opera house small enough to honor the human voice - and in Verdi's hometown, at that. This "Aida" focuses upon the relationships among the various characters of the story and not upon spectacle. The sets and costumes are stunningly beautiful in any case, but they serve to support the action and the development of the characters. I have never before been so profoundly moved by a performance of this opera in my 50 years of listening and watching.

It sould be noted that this production omits the ballet in the midst of the triumphal march - and in this case it matters not a bit. The earlier dance of the priestesses and the vesting of Radames is conceived as religous ritual that evokes a sense of awe, fearful awe.

Everything about this DVD makes it a worthwhile purchase, very much including the documentary of "The Making of Aida," in which we see Franco Zeffirelli working with the young singers scene by scene, encouraging them to live into their characters and honoring the phyisical support required by their voices. The conductor (Massimiliano Stefanelli) and the lead singers (Adina Aaron, Kate Alrich, Scott Piper) may not be known to the viewer before seeing this DVD, but once one has seen it one is on the watch for other recordings by any of them.

I did an immeidate comparison of this production on DVD with that of the MET on DVD. The young Scott Piper out-sings and out-acts Placido Domingo. Piper even follows the composer's instructions for a soft tenderness at the close of "celeste Aida," whereas Domingo indulges in the "traditioanl" extended vocal trumpet call. Domingo is a great singer and a fine actor, but young Scott Piper IS Ramades. I can say pretty much the same down the line about each of the singers in the two productions: Bergonzi's singers are at home in their characters, vocally and physically, whereas the MET stars are (beautifully) singing "opera" to grand "effect." The MET DVD does include all of the ballet music, and the production and performance are overall very fine - don't get me wrong. But I think I will return to the young singers in this venerable and small Italian opera house whenever I want to experience what my gut tells me is closer to Verdi's intentions.

Worth Owning
If you're looking for elephants, camels and everything else that can be thrown into the grand parade scene of AIDA, this is not the DVD for you. However,if the singing is what you're interested in, this is definitely worth seeing. Scott Piper is a handsome actor/singer and portrays Radames shifting allegiances well. Gorgeous voice. Adina Aaron as Aida is magnificent--a singer of great dignity and prescence (beautiful too) who makes you believe every word she sings. The third side of this traingle, Kate Aldrich as the Pharoah's daughter, is a bit petulant and tends to play with her wig a lot. The effect is of a spoiled teenager not getting her way--but that may have been how she was directed.

Every part of the Zeffirelli-designed production is stunning. The sets Zeffirelli squeezes into the tiny Teatro Giuseppe Verdi, the costumes, head-dresses and wigs, the make-up (dig those lapis-lazuli faces on Pharoah's retainers!) are all worth watching closely, even studying. The big parade scene is cleverly "cheated" by having the crowds face away from the audience as if watching a parade go by which we can't see. This prevents the opera from sagging into mere spectacle.
At the time of filming, the singers were young newcomers chosen by Zeffirelli himself. It's great to see the assurance of a proven director/designer blend with the eagerness and confidence of these soon-to-be stars.
A bonus: subtitles are in multiple languages, including Italian, for those who want the actual lyrics and not a translation.