Ancient Egypt
Other operas set in Ancient Egypt:
Aïda - Giuseppe Verdi
Information about the opera Aïda by Giuseppe Verdi, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Verdi's psychological drama with an Egyptian setting.
Synopsis
The opera tells the story of the forbidden love between the Ethiopian slave Aïda and Radamés, a captain in the Egyptian army.
Recommended recordings on CD
Saccani/Dragoni/Dever (Naxos 8.660916-18)
An Opera Plus version combining Aïda (c. Saccani) with a commentary CD.
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, conducted by Rico Saccani, 1994.
Cast: Maria Dragoni (Aïda), Barbara Dever (Amneris), Kristijan Johannsson (Radames), Mark Rucker (Amonasro).
Naxos 8.660916-18
Karajan/Tebaldi/Bergonzi (Decca 460 978-2)
The first stereo recording of Aida, and in many respects still unsurpassed.
Society of Friends of Music Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, 9/1959.
Cast: Renata Tebaldi (Aïda), Carlo Bergonzi (Amneris), Giulietta Simionato (Radames), Cornell MacNeil (Amonasro).
Decca 460 978-2
Saccani/Dragoni/Dever (Naxos 8.660033-4)
National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, conducted by Rico Saccani, 1994.
Cast: Maria Dragoni (Aïda), Barbara Dever (Amneris), Kristijan Johannsson (Radames), Mark Rucker (Amonasro).
Naxos 8.660033-4
Recommended recordings on DVD
Downes/Studer/D'Intino (Opus Arte OA R3104 D)
An acclaimed 1994 Royal Opera House production by Elijah Moshinsky.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Sir Edward Downes, 1994.
Cast: Cheryl Studer (Aïda), Luciana D'Intino (Amneris), Dennis O'Neill (Radames), Alexandru Agache (Amonasro).
Opus Arte OA R3104 D
Ono/Fantini/Komlosi (Opus Arte OA 0954 D)
Recorded live at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie - De Munt in 2004.
Symphony Orchestra and Choir of La Monnaie - De Munt, conducted by Kazushi Ono, 2004.
Cast: Norma Fantini (Aïda), Ildiko Komlosi (Amneris), Marco Berti (Radames), Mark Doss (Amonasro).
Opus Arte OA 0954 D
Gómez-Martinez/Dessi/Fiorillo (OA 0894 D)
A visually stunning production, filmed in Barcelona in 2003, with superb historic trompe-l'oeil sets.
Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, Chorus of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, conducted by Miguel Angel Gómez-Martinez, 2003.
Cast: Daniela Dessi (Aïda), Elisabetta Fiorillo (Amneris), Fabio Armiliato (Radames), Juan Pons (Amonasro).
OA 0894 D
Maazel/Chiara/Dimitrova (Arthaus Musik 100 059)
Recorded at La Scala, Milan, in 1985, this is a lavish production with excellent sound, and outstanding singing by the main characters; only the lack of acting lets it down a bit.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Lorin Maazel.
Cast: Maria Chiara (Aïda), Ghena Dimitrova (Amneris), Luciano Pavarotti (Radames), Juan Pons (Amonasro).
Arthaus Musik 100 059
Also included in the boxed set:
Magic Moments of Opera