Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Performer: Maria Callas
Orchestra: La Scala Theater Orchestra
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Size: 1.36 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
Aida – opera in four acts
Libretto: Antonio Ghislanzoni
Maria Callas (Aida)
Richard Tucker (Radamès)
Fedora Barbieri (Amneris)
Tito Gobbi (Amonasro)
Giuseppe Modesti (Ramfis)
Prelude
01. Prelude
Act 1
02. “Si, corre voce che I’Etiope ardisca” (Ramfis, Radamès)
03. “Se quel gerriero io fossil!” (Radamès)
04. “Celeste Aida” (Radamès)
05. “Quale insolita gioia nel tuo sguardo!” (Amneris, Radamès)
06. “Vieni, o diletta appressati” (Amneris, Aida, Radamès)
07. “Alta cagion v’aduna” (King, Messenger, Aida, Radamès, Amneris, Ministers, Captains)
08. “Su! del Nilo al sacro lido” (King, Ramfis, Ministers, Captains, Aida, Radamès, Amneris, Priests, Messenger)
09. “Ritorna vincitor!” (Aida)
10. “Possente Ftha…Tu che dal nulla hai Tratto”! (Priestess, Ramfis, Priests)
11. “Immenso Ftha…Mortal, diletto ai Numi” (Priestess, Ramfiss, Priests)
12. “Nume, custode e vindice” (Ramfis, Radamès, Priests, Priestess)
Act 2
13. “Chi mai fra gl’inni e i plausi” (Slave Girls, Amneris)
14. Dance of the Moorish slaves
15. “Vieni, sul crin ti piovano” (Slave Girls, Amneris)
16. “Fu la sorte dell’ammi a’tuoi funesta” (Amneris, Aida)
17. “Pieta ti prenda del mio dolor” (Aida, Chorus, Amneris)
18. “Su! del Nilo al sacro lido…Numi, Pieta” (Chorus, Aida, Amneris)
19. “Gloria all’Egitto, ad Iside” (People, Priests)
20. Triumphal march
21. Ballet
22. “Vieni, o guerriero vindice” (People, Priests)
23. “Salvator della patria” (King, Radamès, Ramfis, Priests)
24. “Che veggo! Egli? Mio padre!….Anch’io pugnai…Ma tu, Re, Tu signore possente” (Aida, Slave Girls, Prisoners, Ramfis, Priests, Amonasro, King, People)
25. “Il dolor che in quel volto favella” (All)
26. “O Re, Pei sacri Numi….Gloria all’Egitto” (All)
Act 3
27. “O tu che sei d’Osiride” (Chorus, Ramfis, Amneris)
28. “Vieni d’Iside al tempio” (Chorus, Ramfis, Amneris)
29. “Qui Radamès verrà” (Aida)
30. “O patria mia” (Aida)
31. “Ciel! mio padre!” (Aida, Amonasro)
32. “Rivedrai le foreste imbalsamate”
33. “Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida” (Aida, Radamès)
34. “Nel fiero anelito di nuova guerra” (Radamès, Aida)
35. “Fuggiam gli ardori inospiti…La, tra forests vergini”
36. “Ma dimmi; per qual via” (Aida, Radamès, Amonasro, Amneris, Ramfis)
Act 4
37. “L’abborrita rivale a me sfuggia” (Amneris)
38. “Gia i sacerdoti adunansi” (Amneris, Radamès)
39. “Ohime! morir mi sento!” (Amneris, Amonasro, Chorus)
40. “Spirto del nume” (Amneris, Ramfis)
41. “A lui vivo, la tomba!…Sacerdoti: compiste un delitto!” (Amneris, Ramfis, Priests)
42. “La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse” (Radamès, Aida, Priestess, Priests)
43. “Vedi? Di morte I’angelo…Immenso Ftha” (Radamès, Aida, Priestess, Priests)
44. “O terra addio” (Aida, Radamès, Chorus, Amneris)
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, Tullio Serafin (conductor)
Chorus master: Norberto Mola
Recorded: 10–12, 16–20, 23 & 24.VIII.1955, Teatro alla Scala, Milan
One of the legendary moments in Callas’ career came in 1950 in Mexico City, when she interpolated a stupendous top E flat at the end of the Triumphal Scene in Act II of Aida. In this recording under Serafin she abided by the score, but still prompted Gramophone to speak of her ‘fascinating art and prodigious personality’, observing the way she was ‘rapt in imaginative intensity in the significance of the words’.