Verdi: Aida - Harnoncourt, Wiener Philharmonic (3 CD)

Verdi: Aida
Cristina Gallardo-Domâs (Aida), Vincenzo La Scola (Radamès), Olga Borodina (Amneris), Thomas Hampson (Amonasro), Matti Salminen (Ramfis), László Polgár (Il Re), Kurt Streit (Un messaggero) & Dorothea Röschmann (Una sacerdotessa)
Arnold Schoenberg Chor & Wiener Philharmoniker, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Gloriously sumptuous, Aida is often termed Verdi’s grandest opera, but crucial for Nikolaus Harnoncourt was its essence as “a deeply profound work – subtle, transparent, at times almost like chamber music.” Reflecting his insights is a performance that never sacrifices lyricism and nuance to the epic drama, ritual pomp and mighty passions. Cristina Gallardo-Domâs and Vincenzo La Scola bring touching beauty and expressivity to Aida and Radamès, Thomas Hampson makes an Amonasro of consummate cunning, and Olga Borodina, proud, sensual and fiery, is the embodiment of Princess Amneris.