The Black Dog Music Library presents Guiseppe Verdi's Aida, featuring Birgit Nilsson, Franco Corelli, Mario Sereni, and Grace Bumbry and the Coro e Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma under the direction of Zubin Mehta. An Angel/EMI compact disc set, accompanied by the complete libretto with unabridged English translations and minute-by-minute commentary and information on the composer, the music, and the performance.
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Giuseppe Verdi's masterful Aida is carried much more by the music than by the story line (enslaved Ethiopian princess loves Egyptian general, wins him away from Egyptian princess, gets him to betray his country, and then elects to die with him). The splendid arias and choruses, and the pathos and heroic bombast of Verdi's score are unmatched. Here, Black Dog Opera Library offers a highly affordable and reasonably comprehensive guide to the production. The volume contains an interesting and well-written essay, lots of pictures, the libretto in both English and Italian, and a complete recording of the opera on compact disc.
The energetic recording, made by EMI/Angel Records in 1967 and remastered for release on CD in 1979, offers the laser-voiced Aida of Birgit Nilsson, abandoning her Nordic Strauss-Wagner mantle in favor of the more Italianate vocalism of the Ethiopian princess. If it's not her very best role, the power that Nilsson brings to the part is impressive. This recording would be worth owning simply for the outstanding contribution of tenor Franco Corelli, who is at the top of his form as a clarion-voiced Radames. The fine Amneris and Amonasro of mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry and baritone Mario Sereni, respectively, are also standouts. Zubin Mehta conducts his soloists, the chorus, and the orchestra of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma with youthful enthusiasm.
About the Author
Giuseppe Verdi was born on October 10, 1813, in the small village of Le Roncole in northern Italy. His father, Carlo Verdi, a poor peasant, ran the local combination shop (an inn and tavern) and farmed a small plot of land. Verdi had only one sibling, a younger sister who was retarded and who died in her teenage years. As a child, he showed an early interest in music. It is said that he used to follow an itinerant fiddle player all around the village, and that he would be transfixed by the organ music at church on Sundays, sometimes forgetting his duties as colyte.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Valuable Collection Piece,
By Weike Tao (Galveston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Aida (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)
Brilliant voices of Birgit Nilsson, Franco Corelli with Orchestra e Coro Del Teatro dell' Opera di Roma under Zubin Mehta. A marvelous studio recording without audience noises. A number of stage photos of major performances and introduction of Verdi and the writing of AIDA. Two CD's with the complete opera with complete libretto in Italian and English. A great value. A must-have.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific Package and a bargain,
By A Customer
This review is from: Aida (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)
The Black Dog Opera Library series are beautifully packaged and way underpriced. They each contain 2 CDs of the complete opera in the inside covers of a compact hardcover book which contains photos and commentary, as well as an annotated libretto in the original language and English translation, referenced to the CD, and notes and photos of the main performers and conductor. The performances are usually classic ones and though not necessarily recorded in the digital age they all sound gorgeous. I have only been able to find 4 (Magic Flute, Aida, La Boheme, and Carmen) and wish there were more. The only flaws in my opinion are that there is no information regarding the date or location of the performances nor is there a complete cast listing
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Aida Ever Made,
A Kid's Review
This review is from: Aida (Black Dog Opera Library) (Hardcover)
Wow!! Wow!! O my God! I just heard this album and my jaw dropped. Why it so many critic snub this recording ? It's the best Aida on record. I think it has to do with the fact it's very rare and more of a collector's piece as well overshadowed by more popular editions- i.e. Placido Domingo/Leontine Price, Jon Vickers..Pavoratti..Montserrat Caballe etc. But the cast in this album can not be more perfect. Birgit Nilsson was a grand lady of the opera- with a voice that cut through great orchestras, with dramatic integrity in her stage performances (she was as much as an actress as she was a singer and in this way she was like Maria Callas). It is true that she is far more recognized for her Wagner heroines- she is the best Isolde and Brunhilde, but her Wagnerian voice, so high, so powerful, is perfect for such diva roles as Aida. Verdi wrote the role for soprano di forzas which Birgit Nillson delivers with electrifying prowess. She was trained in Italian as well, which people seem to forget. Her Italian voice is rich, powerful, with a high top and generous bottom. She gets into characters with passionate intensity as well. Has anyone ever heard Turandot ? It's the best! So intense and powerful. And her Tosca is breathtaking. She also sang in Mozart's Don Giovanni starred opposite Leontine Price and the famous bass Cesare Siepi in that one. She can do the Italian roles as good as the rest of them!! There is also her powerful interpretation of Turandot and Tosca. So there you have it. Her Italian was as dynamic as her German. Franco Corelli is an awesome Radames, with hot-blooded, masculine energy and lyrical moments of love and grief. He can be a tough guy and a sensitive lover. "Celeste Aida" is superbly done, even if not sung as written. His Tomb Scene at the end is incredible. Grace Bumbry is the best Amneris, and she sang the role numerous times which made her an expert on it. She has a dignity of her own in the role and she is not as scary or bitchy as Rita Gorr's interpretation. Bumbry's perfect. You can also hear her as Amneris in the Leontine Price/Placido Domingo version conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. This is truly a great recording and will have you wanting to get other recordings of its amazing lead singers. Certainly Franco Corelli is a magnet of opera lovers with his excellent artistry. He sang with Birgit Nilsson in the greatest operas of their careers- Puccini's Turandot and Tosca which are also available at Amazon.com and I strongly urge you seek them out. Their Aida is mind-blowing.
The sound to this recording been digitally remastered from the old LP and sound fresh, powerful and moving. The Black Dog Opera Library series offers the best in opera to a beginner who takes interest in the world of opera or to fans who are already converted. It does more for the novice, however. My first of these "cd-books" was Verdi's La Traviata starring Beverly Sills and Nicolai Gedda. This was indeed a perfect performance. This was followed by Bizet's Carmen starring Jon Vickers and Grace Bumbry..another winner! Then came Mozart's Magic Flute starring Peter Schreir, Anneliese Rothenberger, Kurt Moll, Walter Berry and Edda Moser. This is the best Magic Flute out there. Indeed, all the recordings on this series are of the highest calibre. This book comes with the libretto, pictures of Aidas in the past, and bios on Corelli, Nilsson and Bumbry. Go out and get it today!!!
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