Aida

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DVD details

Actor: Antonio Cassinelli, Enrico Formichi, Gino Bechi, Luciano della Maria, Vittorio Caprioli
Cinematographer: Piero Portalupe
Composer: Renzo Rossellini
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Subtitled); Italian (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Classical, DVD-Video, Import, NTSC
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-09-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Qualiton DVD

DVD Reviews of Aida

DVD Review: Dissapointment
Summary: 3 Stars

I'm disappointed. It is not what I expected. Aida is a great Opera with many choir sequences. In this film many choir arias are avoided. The opera is shortened. This DVD might be interesting for colectionars of old movies who likes opera, and nothing else.

DVD Review: Better Than I Expected
Summary: 3 Stars

Everything the other reviewers have said is true, so there's not too much to add. I will say, however, that I was impressed with the sets and costumes, which were far more sumptuous (albeit tacky) than I had expected. And Loren and Maxwell (what bizarre casting!) are fabulous lip-synchers and throw themselves into their roles with passion and tremendous energy. Unlike the supremely wooden Luciano Della Marra, the ladies look as if they could actually be singing. No, Verdi doesn't quite survive, despite Tebaldi and Company, but one has to believe that the filmmakers had their hearts in the right place, as their respect and affection for the material is palpable in every frame. Given the noble idea of bringing opera to a wider audience, the fact that this "Aida" isn't very good is almost beside the point.

DVD Review: High Camp meets Grand Opera
Summary: 2 Stars

This is strictly a curiosity item.
Nineteen year old Sofia Loren looking lovely in dark body makeup and frizzy wigs plays the Ethiopian princess with the voice of the great Renata Tebaldi; and Lois Maxwell, yes, Lois Maxwell nine years before she became Miss Moneypenny in the first James Bond movie Dr.No(She went on to play the same character in 14 of the Bond films.)plays the Egyptian princess Amneris with the voice of Ebe Stignani, one of the leading mezzosoprani of the first half of the 20th century.
If you are a movie buff and/or an opera buff, (I am both!) you may enjoy this DVD, but as I said before, just as a curiosity item.
It's neither a good movie, there are cuts, jumps, blackouts, terrible editing; nor a good opera presentation. The musical score has not been just abridged but simply mutilated.
The only value of this venture is that it's kind of historical in the sense that in one you get two great divas very early in their careers, Loren from the screen and Tebaldi from the opera stage.
There is a voice over narration in English, but the opera does not have subtitles in any language.

DVD Review: Old and Odd
Summary: 2 Stars

This historic movie is in bad shape. Sonically it is 50's bad; visually it is not cleanly transfered; there are major cuts and disjoints. As an early attempt to present opera on film it is interesting. The double cast technique actors/singers is difficult at best. Sophia Loren is beautiful as Aida; and Tebaldi sings it well. However the whole effort doesn't come off very well.

But if you want a historic recording and sample of how not to do opera on film -- this is it.

Fing a good Aida on DVD is difficult. The best I have seen so far is the hard to fine EuroArts dvd of Aida from the Festival of St. Margarethen. The singers were unknown to me as well as the conductor, chorus, and orchestra. The set, performance, and singing are excellent to extraordinary. If you can find it buy it.

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