Glitzy, Gaudy Spectacle
There's a little too much gold lame on display here for my taste, but for those who like their opera productions big and flashy, this "Aida" should thrill. Pavarotti, looking downright boyish at times, is in beautiful voice, as is Margaret Price, his leading lady. (On the other hand, her wild eyes and melodramatic gestures have to go.) Unfortunately, Simon Estes as Aida's father is from the louder is better school of opera singing, but, hey, he's not around too long. The real news for me is Stefania Toczyska, who's remarkable as Amneris. I thought the Met's Delora Zajick owned this part, but Toczyska gives her a run for her money. Superbly sung, dramatically valid, this is one of those performances that gets you hunting for more of her...only this seems to be it on DVD. Too bad, but grab it while you can. As for the production, when I stopped looking for taste and gave myself up to the tacky opulence, I found myself enjoying it a lot. Kinda like Zeffirelli's "Turandot," though on a smaller scale. And it's "Aida," after all, so, really, how can you go wrong?