Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Sir Georg Solti, Leontyne Price :: Verdi - Aida / L. Price · Vickers · Merrill · Gorr · Opera di Roma · Solti

Look for the cheaper, 2-CD Import Version

Vincent G. Marino | Staten Island, New York USA | 03/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The same exact recording, remastered, and on 2-CDs instead of 3 is available as a UK import for half the price of this set, which sounds lousy. Look for the import!!"

Too many strengths

Jim Player | Rochester, NY, USA | 03/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Aida, long since a near classic and always among the top five or six of the recommended recordings, does have it's pros and cons. True, Solti does push hard at times, but his pacing of the score is generally well paced and lyrical. Perhaps most of the blame for many instances of brashness comes from the RCA recording team, since the sharp "bright" sound is similar to many of the RCA recordings made fom the 40's on. Also, this recording was transferred in the early digital days when many of the record companies rushed to put out as many of their albums on CD at the expense of sound quality. The Price/Vickers/Gorr triangle is one of the strongest on record. True, Price doesn't delve as much dramatically into the character as she could have, but her strengths have always been purely vocal. Vickers, prone to croon at times, and also somewhat staid as in other of his earlier recordings, redeems himself mightily with his manly portrayal of Radames. His Act 3 duet with Price is, in my opinion, nearly matchless. And one can hardly beat the big-voiced Gorr as the love-torn Amneris, although some sublety would be welcome. Merrill possesed on of the richest and beefiest baritone voices at the time, and characterization wasn't his forte. He's tremendous here, albeit with some hamminess. All in all though, in spite of it's shortcomings, this is one Aida that proves itself....it hasn't been out of the catalogue for nearly 40 years!"

Price is unbelievable, Solti only OK

Kwame Holmes | Florida | 08/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's no question George Solti is a fabulous conductor of Wagner and Strauss, he imbues those composer's music with the emotional frenzy required. What is questionable is Solti's ability to conduct a score that requires more restraint, like Aida. The pace of the music is fine, but the Orchestra is simply far FAR too loud in too many places. The Act One trio for Amneris, Ramses and Aida and the Nile Duet between Aida and Amonsaro are two prime examples. During those scenes in particular Solti drowns out his singer's who are competing with the orchestra rather than working with it. This is particularly unfortunate because this is a very good cast. Tucker isnt the most dramatically interesting Ramses, but he sings passionately enough. Gorr is a threatening imposing Amneris, though less convicing in her tenderer moments, luckily such moments are few. It is Leontyne Price who makes this disc the great recording that it is. This was her first AIDA recording and her voice was at it's most fresh. In her mid range she produces wave after wave of gorgeous tone and moves into her top voice with consumate ease, register breaks not to be found. Her rendition of O Patria Mia is the best you will hear on record, bar none. Her italian diction isnt the clearest but with a voice like that who really cares."