| | |  | Two-Step | Home » » » » Verdi: Aida [Blu-ray] | | | | | | | Description: | | The luxurious Franco Zeffirelli production, live from La Scala, which marked his return to the house after more than 20 years! With an image up to six times sharper than conventional DVD and superior high-definition sound, Blu-Ray lets you watch opera and ballet performances from the front row of the theater. Experience every detail, no matter how small, in the highest quality possible. With five times the memory of standard DVDs, Blu-Ray is a completely new way to experience the theater at home. | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Violeta Urmana, Roberto Alagna, Marco Spotti, Ildiko Komlosi, Giorgio Giuseppini | | Director:
| Patrizia Carmine | | Format:
| Classical, Color | | Language:
| English | | Subtitle:
| German, English, French, Italian, Spanish | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Decca | | Run Time:
| 158 minutes | | Blu-ray Release Date:
| November 18, 2008 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 28 reviews |
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- Good | | | $80.97 | New | |
| New | |
| $18.93 | New | | | $18.93 | New | | | $18.93 | New | | | $18.94 | New | | | $18.95 | New | | | $19.54 | New | | | $20.72 | New | | | $20.97 | New | | | $20.97 | New | | | $21.26 | New | | | $21.26 | New | | | $21.29 | New | | | $21.47 | New | | | $22.46 | New | | | $23.48 | New | | | $25.59 | New | | | $26.99 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | | | $28.77 | New | | | $28.77 | New | | | $28.79 | New | | | $31.50 | New | | | $32.38 | New | | | $33.00 | New | | | $35.83 | New | | | $43.78 | New | | | $50.62 | New | | | $80.97 | New | |
| Used | |
| $17.98 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $19.55 | Used
- Mint | | | $19.57 | Used
- Mint | | | $30.91 | Used
- Good | | | $35.83 | Used
- Mint | | | $58.00 | Used
- Good | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 28 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 found the following review helpful:
 Extremely DisappointingMay 13, 2009
By Barry J. James
I was looking for a modern replacement of my old Met Opera DVD of Aida and, as someone who likes the spectacle of Grand Opera, decided to buy this Franco Zeffirelli directed version from La Scala. I noted that a number of the reviewers had mentioned the superimposed images and fade-ins and fade-outs employed by the director and how much it had annoyed them. However, I thought they were probably being too subjective and I couldn't imagine that a video director would have been given so much of a free hand that it could detract from Zeffirelli's production. How wrong I was! In the triumphal march in Act 2 the stage is full of people, the costumes are opulent, the props are magnificent, the orchestra under Chailly is building up to a climax and yet Patrizia Carmine thinks that she can improve on all of this by adding dissolves through drapes and superimposing close-ups of trumpets; not just once, but again and again.
There is so much to like about this production and I no doubt will watch it occasionally, but it could have been so much better without the interference of the video director. I would go so far as to suggest that all might not be lost and the DVD could possibly be re-released without all the offensive and unnecessary additions. How novel that might be, a non-directors cut of the opera.
22 of 23 found the following review helpful:
 Very distracting Video Direction!!!Nov 19, 2008
By Allan Vanegas
"Opera Fanatic"
Beautiful Aida production by Zefferelli at La Scala Milan. This production is a little over done but beautifully set. The singers are amazing except that I found Alagna's infamous aria "Dolce Aida" to be sung in an almost forced and yelling voice. So far, I have just watched the Acts 1&2 first DVD, and so far I can tell you that you will be dissapointed by the anoying fading of pictures throught the video. This is done in a manner that you want to scream and say stop doing that!!!Just focus on the characters and lets enjoy the performance in a way that a seating patron there was enjoying it. By, the way the ballet at the end of Act 2 was very sexy and beautifully danced. 4 stars for the singing 5 stars for the ballet and 5 star for the sets and costumes. 0 star for the video direction.
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 DisappointingFeb 11, 2009
By Opera Fan
This potentially wonderful production has been ruined by inappropiate zooming, transitions, panning, close-ups of performers and even horns. The video editing is dreadful and distracts from the beauty of the performers and the performance. This DVD could be used in a course for videographers and producers as an example of "How not to do it".
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Decent AidaNov 22, 2009
By William B. Birdsall
"Bel Canto"
This is a decent Aida. Alagna sings Radames better than I thought he would. I thought his voice would be too light for the role. Urmana is also better than I expected, because previously I thought she was squally when I saw her sing the La Forza Leonora and the HD Aida from the Met recently. So she was in much better form than I have seen her in.
I normally like Zeffirelli's set designs, but what is this obsession with golden rods strung horizontally throughout this production? What are they supposed to signify?
I agree with other reviewers about this video though. The video/tv director spends way too much time focusing on pieces of fabric and details of the sets while the singers are singing. It starts out being a very small annoyance, but by the Tomb Scene you are so sick of seeing a piece of fabric while the singers are singing and then it suddenly gets ten times worse during this Tomb Scene. It is like the video director did not want you to even see the Tomb Scene at all. It is incredibly annoying! Whoever made the decision to continually cut to fabric and inanimate objects throughout the video is an idiot. The Tomb Scene is one of the most beautiful moments in all of opera and it was spoiled.
14 of 17 found the following review helpful:
A WALK OUT ON THE WILD SIDEFeb 25, 2008
By Charles D. novak
If you're going to buy this AIDA because this is the production Roberto Alagna walked out on, you're going to be confused. The only thing I can figure is they taped a couple of the performances, including a dress rehearsal and then spliced all the good parts together to make the DVD. Alagna's singing of "Celeste Aida" is awful but you don't hear any booing from the audience unless it was edited out. He excels in the last two acts and the audience lets him know it. There is very little love shown between him and Aida. Alagna seems to be concentrating on the music and seldom takes his eyes off the conductor. Generally the singing is quite good from all the principals but Aida is plump and Amneris is svelte and regal. It's kind of hard to believe Radames chooses Aida. The sets and costumes by Franco Zefirelli are spectacular but ruined by TV director Patrizia Carmine who tries to turn this into a music video using lots of superimposed images, blurry fade outs and bellowing sheets in various colors blocking too many key scenes. The consumer should be warned this is a cinematic version of this opera which doesn't succeed. Verdi's music doesn't need any help. Holding all the pieces together is Riccardo Chailly the conductor whom the audience clearly worships. Franco Ziffrelli comes out at the end and it was sad to see he had to be helped walking on the stage. Say what you will about his grand productions, they are never boring. I already have four AIDA'S on DVD and welcome this latest effort.
See all 28 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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