Customer Reviews

Verdi: Aida

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Naxos is to be commended for bringing these older recordings back into the marketplace at low price, with improved sound and unprecedented quality control.

This "Aida" was, alas, recorded a few years too late. The 57 year-old Gigli was no longer at his blazing peak and the role of Radames was never one of his best. Nevertheless, an old lion remains a lion and he shows insights in his performance that makes one despair for many of the cookie-cutter tenors who followed after him.

Caniglia was a star, a lioness in her own right. One does not listen to Caniglia for beauty of tone (although she has plenty of that in the middle and lower parts of her voice), but for absolute dramatic commitment. Her Ritorna Vincitor can only be described as going straight for the operatic jugular. Even her occasional squawks and noble misses are dramatically appropriate squawks and noble misses!

Gino Bechi was a fine, snarling Amonasro worthy of comparison with Tito Gobbi.

Ebe Stignani was in excellent voice and presented her ususal masterclass in performing Amneris.

Tullio Serafin was one of the grand old men of Italian opera. He had been there at the beginning and had done everything. His conducting is the very definition the best of the older style and authenticity.

The sound of this recording is pretty good 1947 mono, and a lot better than I recollect it being on 78 and LP. The voices are clear and placed well-forward. Naturally, the orchestral sound is compressed and far from current standards of lushness.

This recording rates a good, solid four stars for performance, price, cast and authenticity.

The best parts of this performance are Tullio Serafin's conducting and Pasero's performance as Ramfis. Although there are some bumpy passages. The overall cast is good, but there are some intination issues especially from Amneris that must be addressed. There is one part where she is not even in the right key. That being said, listen to the outstanding performance of Celeste Aida from Gigli. Here is a free voice lesson. Listen to when he stays open and when he covers. It is a model for teaching a young male singer the top. Tancredi Pasero was an outstanding bass. He follows in the footsteps of Ezio Pinza with a darker sound. Listen to the beauty of tone and the spectacular high F. He is the strongest in the cast I think. Gino Bechi is also good as Aida's father. His high range is the highlight of the performance. In terms of the interpretation and musicality he does better on the Andrea Chenier from five years earlier. Maria Caniglia is a soprano I have been very impressed with. She does the samething here. She sings musically and with a lot of passion. This performance is worth having. However it is not the best Aida I have ever heard.