Description
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VERDI Aïda
Live broadcast recording, 1953
Total duration: 2hr 24:33
Aida – Zinka Milanov
Radamès – Mario Del Monaco
Amneris – Blanche Thebom
Amonasro – George London
Ramfis – Jerome Hines
King – Luben Vichey
Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera
conducted by Fausto Cleva
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To say that Aïda is a staple of the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts would be an understatement. It was heard no less than thirty times between the inception of the weekly broadcasts in December 1931 and the closure of the old Met in April 1966. This was more than Tristan (28), Bohème (26), Carmen (26), Traviata (25) and Walküre (23). Verdi’s popular Egyptian love story has all the elements for grand opera: show-stopping arias for the soloists, intricate ensembles, and a major role for the chorus in the Triumphal scene.
The cast for this Met broadcast was among the finest that could be assembled in 1953. Croatian Zinka Milanov was a Met favourite, making her debut in late 1937 and remaining until the old house closed in 1966. She dominated the core Italian repertoire especially in Il Trovatore, La Gioconda, Tosca, Otello and Pagliacci. This broadcast is the 5th of 7 she made as Aïda stretching between 1938 and 1955 and captures her at the height of her powers. She is able to elicit sympathy for Aïda’s plight while conquering the more dramatic aspects with ease.
Mario Del Monaco’s Met career was far shorter than Milanov’s, but he brought an excitement to the Italian tenor roles that has rarely been matched since. Heard in only his second Met broadcast, he is an ideal Radames with a clarion voice able to cut through any competition from orchestra or chorus. Often criticised for his lack of nuance he certainly attempts in this broadcast to limit his instrument to suit the mood, particularly in the final scene.
Making his Met broadcast debut is George London as Amonasro. London would go on to become a leading Wagnerian baritone and his large and tightly controlled voice is fully capable of dealing with all of Verdi’s demands.
The present broadcast recording was very well captured and preserved from the matinée performance of 24th January 1953, the fourth of thirteen performances given by the Met of Aïda in the first half of 1953 (including four touring performances). The clear voices throughout are well complemented by rich and detailed orchestral playing, enhanced by this XR remastering, which includes a very small amount of convolution reverberation derived from one of the world’s great opera houses to fill the Ambient Stereo field out ever so slightly.
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VERDI Aïda
CD One
1. Preludio (3:33)
2. Act 1, Scene 1 – Sì: corre voce che l’Etiope ardisca (1:18)
3. Se quel guerrier io fossi! (4:45)
4. Quale insolito gioia nel tuo sguardo (3:14)
5. Vieni, o diletta, appressati (2:44)
6. Alta cagion v’aduna (3:15)
7. Su! del Nilo al sacro lido (2:59)
8. Ritorna vincitor (6:32)
9. Scene 2 – Possente, possente Fthà (3:09)
10. Immenso, immenso Fthà! (3:14)
11. Nume, custode e vindice (3:55)
12. Act 2, Scene 1 – Chi mai fra gl’inni e i plausi (2:49)
13. Danza di piccoli schiavi mori (3:02)
14. Fu la sorte dell’armi a’ tuoi funesta (5:38)
15. Pietà ti prenda del mio dolor (4:30)
16. Scene 2 – Gloria all’Egitto, ad Iside (3:18)
17. Marchia trionfale (1:34)I Ballabile (4:21)
18. Vieni, o guerriero vindice (2:13)
19. Salvator della patria, io ti saluta (2:06)
20. Che veggo! Egli? Mio padre! (1:03)
21.M Quest’assisa ch’io vesto vi dica (2:36)
22. Il dolor che in quel volto favella (2:31)
CD Two
1. O Re: pei sacri Numi (5:27)
2. Act 3 – O tu che sei d’Osiride (4:24)
3. Qui Radamès verrà! (7:15)
4. Ciel! mio padre! (7:47)
5. Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida (2:57)
6. Fuggiam gli ardori inospiti (6:15)
7. Ma dimmi: per qual via (3:04)
8. Act 4, Scene 1 – L’aborrita rivale a me sfuggia (3:00)
9. Già i Sacerdoti adunansi (6:34)
10. Ohimè! morir mi sento! (7:28)
11. A lui vivo la tomba (3:08)
12. Scene 2 – La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse (5:25)
13. Immenso, immenso Fthà (5:19)
14. Radio ending commentary (2:13)
XR remastering by Andrew Rose
Cover artwork based on a photograph of Zinka Milanov as Aïda in the 1951 Met production
Metropolitan Opera House, New York City
January 24, 1953 Matinee Broadcast
Total duration: 2hr 24:33
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