RARE: G.Verdi: "AIDA" (MET, May 1st, 1964) Nilsson, Corelli, Dalis, MacNeil, Flagello, Diaz-Varviso

Metropolitan Opera New York, N.Y May 1st, 1964 This performance was part of the Met's salute to the 1964 World's Fair. The Metropolitan Opera's 1964 World's Fair season began on April 27 and featured 10 operas in two weeks. The season included performances each night, and matinees on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The season ended with a matinee performance of Don Giovanni on May 10. Giuseppe Verdi AIDA Aida: Birgit Nilsson Radames: Franco Corelli Amneris: Irene Dalis Amonasro: Cornell MacNeil Ramfis: Ezio Flagello King: Justino Diaz Messenger: Robert Nagy Priestess: Mary Ellen Pracht Conductor: Silvio Varviso Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera Act One 0:00 Act Two 39:38 Act Three 1:20:29 Act Four 1:50:44 John Ardoin, Musical America review of this performance "Even the strongest opponent of Birgit Nilsson in Italian repertory would have succumbed to the majesty and splendor of her Aida on this occasion. Her phrasing was expansive and beautifully conceived, with none of the choppy business that has marred her previous Aidas. Her voice was radiant, and she kept it in closer check than before. It was all quite memorable. Equally thrilling was the noble Radames of Franco Corelli which has also improved by leaps and bounds. Cornell MacNeil substituted for an indisposed George London as Amonasro, and Irene Dalis was Amneris." Howard Klein, New York Times Verdi's “Aida” was given a performance worthy of the opera's greatness last night at the Metropolitan Opera largely because Silvio Varviso, who was conducting it there for the first time, brought taste, excitement and brilliant control to it. Mr. Varviso was scheduled to lead it earlier in the season but illness prevented him. On tour he led it twice, and that much familiarity with the orchestra, chorus and principals must have contributed to his authority over the whole. In general, his tempos were faster than those of his predecessors—Georg Solti and Kurt Adler. But he got the orchestra to play the notes and then some. Accents were strong and clear; climactic moments were played for all they were worth. In the second act's triumphal scene, the high points were like great waves, the crests of which Mr. Varviso rode. There was pliancy in the music that made going from one tempo to another seem natural. The dancers had their problems keeping up sometimes, but their vigor matched the orchestra's. The singing of the principals —Birgit Nilsson, Franco Coreilli, Irene Dalis, Cornell MacNeil, Justino Diaz and Ezio Flagello—was not solo work but was fused together to produce a dramatic fabric of burning intensity. A man in the lobby at intermission said, “I have heard ‘Aida’ over 50 times in all the world's great houses. Tonight it sounds brand new.” He was probably right."