Product Details

• Actors: Cheryl Studer, Luciana D'Intino, Yvonne Barclay, Dennis O'Neill, Robin Leggate
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: Antonio Ghislanzoni
• Producers: Stephany Marks
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: February 27, 1997
• Run Time: 152 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304364296
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,876 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

No, this is not the Broadway hit, but the original Verdi masterpiece, staged and performed to a fare-thee-well by an extraordinary cast in this 1994 Royal Opera production. Cheryl Studer shows why she was one of America's leading sopranos in the late 1980s and early '90s before bowing out because of overwork and strain. Her Aida is touching, proud, defiant--in short, the quintessential Verdi heroine. Her Radames, Dennis O'Neill, is only adequate, which puts both Aida and her rival Amneris (Luciana d'Intino in a forceful portrayal) at odds over seemingly nothing. The Royal Opera Chorus performs Verdi's glorious choral moments brilliantly, and the Royal Opera House Orchestra, under Edward Downes, gives a solid, vigorous account of one of Verdi's most shimmering scores. Elijah Moshinsky's staging abounds in many clever touches, and the sets and costumes are evocative without being too elaborately overwhelming. --Kevin Filipski

From the Back Cover

A spectacular Covent Garden production of Verdi's most popular opera, featuring Cheryl Studer and Dennis O'Neill. 150 minutes, color, 1994, in Italian with English subtitles. Cast:

Cheryl Studer: Aida
Dennis O'Neill: Radamès
Luciana D'Intino: Amneris
Alexandru Agache: Amonasro
Robert Lloyd: Ramfis
Mark Beesley: Il re
Yvonne Barclay: Grande Sacerdotessa
John Marsden: Messagiero

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding AIDA, September 19, 2007

By 

Strauss Lover - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Verdi - Aida / Downes, Studer, O'Neill, Royal Opera Covent Garden (DVD)

I am new to this Aida and its magic spell is now upon me. Of course any Aida will rise and fall on the title role and this is a superior Aida on all counts not least vocally and interpretatively. Some will argue that Leontyne Price is the Aida of our times. I disagree since Price, to these ears, is a singer of the stand and deliver variety. What Cheryl Studer accomplishes in the title role is an unexpected pleasure. Listen to her "O patria mia" to understand what I mean. I could go on and on. For example, d'Intino is also a superb Amneris. Less so is O'Neill as Radames but you can't have it all. Bravi!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Example of Eurotrash, February 24, 2010

By 

The Muvian (Escondido, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi - Aida / Downes, Studer, O'Neill, Royal Opera Covent Garden (DVD)

This performance is horrible. Want to see king of Egypt dressed like a Neonazi with a flat top? Radames in some kind of military uniform? Aida looking like a laundry woman? You got it. I guess there is some kind of "concept" here that just eludes me. It is NOT what I would expect from Convent Garden Opera House. The sets are laughable and very cheap looking. The Triumphal march is a joke: I don't think I've seen a more boring dancing. What makes this really heart-aching is the presence of some good singers. I've seen Cheryl Studer and Robert Lloyd in other performances. For example, Lloyd in Verdi - Don Carlo / Lima, Cotrubas, Zancanaro, Baglioni, Lloyd, Haitink, Covent Garden Opera was terrific but he sure does not impress here.

If you want to watch a good performance of this opera, I'd recommend Met Verdi - Aida / Levine, Domingo, Millo, Metropolitan Opera with Placido Domingo and Aprile Millo. It's a solid classical interpretation with amazing sets and the grandiose Act 2, which is, by the way, hard to pull off.

So don't waste you money unless you like Eurotrash style or want to see how not to do operas...

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive production and singing, October 8, 2006

By 

Robert Petersen (Durban, South Africa) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Verdi - Aida / Downes, Studer, O'Neill, Royal Opera Covent Garden (DVD)

I never thought that Cheryl Studer could pull off Aida. But she does. She sings with her usual committment vocally and the audience love her. The staging is impressive and the chorus and orchestra under Edward Downes add to the production. The remainder of the cast perform excellently.