Product Details

• Actors: Kate Aldrich, Scott Piper, Adina Aaron, Massimiliano Stefanelli, Paolo Pecchioli
• Format: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Italian, German, English, French
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Tdk DVD Video
• DVD Release Date: November 21, 2006
• Run Time: 142 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FWGVWO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,247 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intimate Staging Of A Large Scale Opera - And It Works!, August 23, 2003

By 

John G. Gleeson Sr. (Frederic, Mi USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aida (DVD)

After watching this excellent, exciting performance, I went to the booklet that accompanies the DVD to see who the performers were. Much to my surprise, I discovered that they were all in their mid-twenties when the opera was staged in 2001. In fact, it was the director and stage designer, Franco Zeffirelli who
"... organized the production as a workshop for talented young performers who are to be opera's future". The soloists received "... intensive tuition [sic] in singing..." from legendary tenor Carlo Bergonzi, arguably the best interpreter of Verdi's tenor roles in second half of the 20th century.

The opera was staged as part of the commemorative of the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death in his home town of Busseto, in the tiny Teatro Giuseppe Verdi. When the opera opened with shots of a small stage and a small orchestra, I thought that I had made a mistake in buying this disc.

I had not! The performance is totally captivating from beginning to end. Large scale Aida comes across very well in a small setting, where the focus is on character and not spectacle. Everything about this performance works splendidly to present Aida in a way that I had not experienced before.

And these "talented young performers"? How did they manage the very demanding vocal roles? Like seasoned professionals! Adina Aaron carries the title role with near perfection, and my most memorable Aida was Leontyne Price! Aaron not only sings beautifully, from her first note to her last, with no sign of strain or fatigue, but she can really act. Kate Aldrich nearly steals the show as Amneris, the daughter of the King: she is beautiful and sings with incredible sensitivity, suppleness and perfect technique -- and she, too, can act. Tenor Scott Piper sings the role of Radames with great elan; his spinto voice is a bit lighter than some of the dramatic tenors who sing this role, but it is a fresh, lyrical voice that never tires or strains. Bergonzi's mentoring was demonstrated very well indeed, in Mr. Piper's case. Baritone Giuseppe Garra sings the role of Amonasro with total conviction and with fantastic voice. Conductor Massimiliano Stefanelli conducts with authority and sensitivity; he observes all of Verdi's dynamic markings, thus making the intimacy of this performance very immediate.

The disc quality is first rate, with great digital picture, and sound that can be played in the DTS mode, for a fantastic sonic experience. TDK Mediactive has issued several operas lately, and all that I have seen are simply wonderful, without exception. They use European productions, where expectations of operatic excellence are high.

When I purchased this disc, I was looking for a well sung, authoritive, recent performance, without the vocally very tired presence of Domingo or Pavarotti. I was looking for a combination of authentic Verdi combined with outstanding picture and sound qualities. I found them.

If you are looking for a fresh yet well performed version of one of opera's fundamental works, you cannot do much better than this.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An astonishing Aida; smaller is better!, November 24, 2007

By 

RENS (Dover, NH USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Verdi - Aida (DVD)

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.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars UNIQUE AND UNCONVENTIONAL, BUT IT WORKS!, April 19, 2005

By 

L. Mitnick (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aida (DVD)

Aida is an opera which has always been presented on the grand scale, and here we have a completely different approach to this massive work. It's been made very intimate and very immediate. This has a positive effect on the drama itself, and it certainly gives a better opportunity to concentrate on the actual drama of Aida, Rhadames and Amneris. The camera close-ups of the singers are especially helpful in this respect, and since all the lead singers are young and beautiful, this is really nice to watch. The sets are beautiful, though they too are scaled for the smaller stage utilized here. Overall, this is a wonderful way to experience "Aida", one that many will watch again and again.
The only caveat is that the opera is presented with some rather noticeable cuts --------- which are immediately obvious to anyone who knows the opera well. Were the opera presented in it's complete form, it would be worthy of a 5 star rating. The singing is excellent, considering the ages of the respective singers. No -- they do not approach the sheer power, volume and impact that seasoned operatic legends have lavished on this music, but they are quite good, and in a small theatre such as this one, their performances work well, as none of their voices are very large.
The production is very beautiful, and the orchestra plays the music beautifully. It's an outstanding way to introduce someone to "Aida" , but also an excellent way for an opera "veteran" to see this opera performed in a very unique and interesting manner.