Verdi: Aida. Metropolitan Opera [DVD] [2000] [NTSC]

This is an absolutely traditional production of Aida, entirely true to the era of the story and with the monumental and spectacular sets typical of the Metropolitan Opera. The costumes are excellent and we are treated to a real triumphal march complete with horses and chariot, though it is not as imaginative as it might be, consisting largely of a great number of people trooping across the stage in various guises. This is really the only significant weakness of the production, it is so traditional and predictable that there is really no excitement such as one gets from productions with something new and interesting to present. The music throughout is excellent. There are places where Levine's typically slow pacing makes familiar sections drag a little but this is a minor problem with the orchestra in great form and such a cast of excellent principals. Outstanding are Aprile Millo as Aida, Dolora Zajick as Amneris and Placido Domingo as Radames, all of whom give dramatic performances with huge voices but also have the experience and sheer vocal quality to provide many moments of great musicality and drama with subtle and restrained singing when appropriate. The only relative disappointment amongst the four main principals is Sherrill Milnes as Aida's father Amonasro. He never seems comfortable in the role of the Ethiopian king and he does not appear to be in great vocal form. Perhaps most surprisingly from this very dramatic operatic performer is that his acting often appears stilted and not at all believable. It is true that this is not a natural role for him, but Aprile Millo is surprisingly wonderful in a role that one might have thought would not be natural for her. The role of Ramfis, the High Priest, is played by Paata Burchuladze and it is very welcome to have someone of his calibre with such a huge rich bass voice playing this character. He is not always subtle but is unfailingly effective as the dominating and bloodthirsty priest. Overall this is certainly a great production, if rather uninspired. Its greatest strength lies in the vocal contributions of the three leading principals and Ramfis. It does not, however, equal the vocal quality of the 1981 production from San Francisco with Pavarotti and Margaret Price, especially as that production has the advantage of the ideal casting of Simon Estes as Amonasro.

This is a production to impress, and it certainly does. A shot below the facade of the Metropolitan Opera with the fountains, opens the film, and pans to James Levine conducting the overture. With the opening notes from the High Priest (Paata Burchuledze) a distance shot shows the massive set and backdrop with all of the monumental scale of the Egyptian Temple of Karnak.Placido Domingo as Radames Captain of the Guards, appears in close up in gilt armour, performing his opening aria with his customary passion and commitment, which he maintains throughout,until the final note of the Opera when he is entombed with Aida.Dolora Zajick is a formidable and passionate Amneris, daughter of the king of Egypt, in love with Radames, and the bitter rival of Aida.Aprile Millo makes her dramatic entry in white robes with bronze-gilt attatchments, as Aida the Ethiopian slave, and pours the passion of a lifetime into the beautiful "ritorna vincitor" scene where she is torn between the love of her father and country, and love for Radames, an Egyptian.Sherrill Milnes plays Amonasro, Aida's father and king of Ethiopia, a pardonned prisoner plotting revenge.Dimitri Kavrakos is Il Re dell Egitto (king of Egypt), and Margaret Jane Wray is the ceremonial Priestess.Although this is a film of a staged performance various film techniques enhance the action, such as temple and victory processions, and close up views being superimposed and faded into each other. The performers take a bow in front of the curtain at the end of each Act, and there is appreciative applause at the end of the impressive solos. So here are the best of both stage production, and film, directed by Brian Large and produced by Peter Gelb.It was an Emmy award winner 1989-90 for an outstanding Classical Programme in the Performing Arts.Obviously there is some artistic license, but the inventiveness and authenticity of the costumes is remarkable, for the Metropolitan Ballet, Chorus, and Soloists alike. The sound quality is vibrant, from the muted string passages and the celleste to the dominant trumpet Victory March.There are optional subtitles, and this NTSC DVD, comes with a 25 page synopsis with production photographs, in English, German, and French. A pure delight..

There's only one word for this and that's - Epic! Just check out the triumphant return of Radames at the beginning of Act two, Scene two. The set is amazing, as is the number of people on the stage - soldiers, captives, priests, servants, Royalty, Gods, horses, chariots and of course Verdi's music! I've never seen a stage so full or more occupied - only in a motion picture!Yes, some of the scenes are a little long-winded IMHO, the picture quality is a little poor at times too, as is some parts of the acting - it's a shade limp or lacks true / required passion in some quarters - Zajick & Domingo suffer a little bit at times of this , but overall, the singing is lovely, as is the score. The storyline is very good with quite a dark ending! I note some said the opera had a rather `dated' feel, I know what they meant, it was a bit Anthony & Cleopatra, Ben Hur, but it is a period piece, so I'm not sure how one would get around that?The star for me was Aprile Millo (Aida), though all the main players did a pretty good job.My favourite Verdi piece will always be Rigoletto, this of course is an entirely different kettle of fish, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it was slightly exhausting at getting on for 3 hours!