Aida; Aida

Two more Aida's? Why not? It's a terrific opera, with major roles for all voice parts, famous melodies, colorful costuming and staging…and, like all great tragedies, everybody dies in the end. Set in Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs, Aida tells the tale of a doomed love affair between the eponymous captured Ethiopian slave and an Egyptian commander named Radames, a relationship doubly complicated by the fact that 1) Aida's owner--the Egyptian princess Amneris--is also in love with Radames, and 2) Aida's father is heading up Ethiopia's invading forces, which will put him up against Radames. In the more recent made-for-Italian television version from Image Entertainment, Dolora Zajick (mezzo du jour in New York) as an all-too-human Amneris is the standout in a vocally powerful cast of the stand…stare….sing school of operatic performance. While this is a sturdy, forthright production, the nightmarish costumes are jolting and all those listless spear carriers lessen the impact of the triumphal scenes. (Zajick, incidentally, is also seen in a 1981 version from Deutsche Grammophon featuring Aprile Millo and Placido Domingo). A strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. !Much better, however, is TDK's new release of Aida, mounted in Verdi's birthplace of Busseto, Italy, on the centennial of his death. Director Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet) combed the world for emerging young singers, subjected them to a crash course in Verdi technique with Verdi tenor Carlo Bergonzi, and mounted a production that focuses more on talent than spectacle. The result is a musically rich, dramatically forceful, and utterly compelling performance that will delight young audiences with its youthful verve while also appealing to seasoned opera goers, who will appreciate a fresh interpretation of a golden oldie. Also included on the DVD is the 46-minute "Making of Aida," featuring Zeffirelli in action, molding the performances with humor and insight. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)