Aida (The Black Dog Opera Library) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1884822800 ISBN 13: 9781884822803

Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 1996

Synopsis

The Black Dog Opera Library is one of the most popular, informative, and budget-friendly ways to enjoy all the great operas. Each book in the series includes a history of the opera, a synopsis of the story, a complete libretto in its original language as well as in English, and dozens of photographs and drawings depicting great scenes, singers, performances, and more. Each book also includes an excellent Angel/EMI recording of the entire opera on two CDs, as well as commentary from experts in the field who guide you through the music as you listen. All of this for less than twenty dollars!

About this title

Review:

Giuseppe Verdi's masterful Aida is carried much more by the music than by the story line (enslaved Ethiopian princess loves Egyptian general, wins him away from Egyptian princess, gets him to betray his country, and then elects to die with him). The splendid arias and choruses, and the pathos and heroic bombast of Verdi's score are unmatched. Here, Black Dog Opera Library offers a highly affordable and reasonably comprehensive guide to the production. The volume contains an interesting and well-written essay, lots of pictures, the libretto in both English and Italian, and a complete recording of the opera on compact disc.

The energetic recording, made by EMI/Angel Records in 1967 and remastered for release on CD in 1979, offers the laser-voiced Aida of Birgit Nilsson, abandoning her Nordic Strauss-Wagner mantle in favor of the more Italianate vocalism of the Ethiopian princess. If it's not her very best role, the power that Nilsson brings to the part is impressive. This recording would be worth owning simply for the outstanding contribution of tenor Franco Corelli, who is at the top of his form as a clarion-voiced Radames. The fine Amneris and Amonasro of mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry and baritone Mario Sereni, respectively, are also standouts. Zubin Mehta conducts his soloists, the chorus, and the orchestra of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma with youthful enthusiasm.

About the Author:

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer primarily known for his operas.

About this edition

• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1884822800
• ISBN 13: 9781884822803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144