Herbert von Karajan & Wiener Philharmoniker – Verdi: Aida – ESOTERIC Hybrid-SACD

Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida is one of the great masterpieces of the operatic repertoire. In this celebrated 1959 recording, Herbert von Karajan conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker and an exceptional cast including Renata Tebaldi, Carlo Bergonzi, Giulietta Simionato and Cornell MacNeil. ESOTERIC presents this classic DECCA recording as a premium 2-disc Hybrid-SACD, catalogue number ESSD-90327/28.

The recording was made at the Sofiensäle in Vienna between September 2 and 15, 1959. Karajan’s dramatic control, the distinctive sound of the Wiener Philharmoniker and the remarkable vocal cast combine in a compelling interpretation of Verdi’s monumental opera.

New DSD mastering by ESOTERIC

For this edition, the historic source material has been newly remastered at the ESOTERIC Mastering Center. ESOTERIC uses its proprietary remastering process and a high-quality DSD mastering chain designed to preserve as much detail, dynamics, spatial information and natural tonal character from the original recording as possible.

The SACD layer of this release is presented in stereo, making this edition especially attractive to classical music enthusiasts and listeners with high-quality digital playback systems.

What is a Hybrid-SACD?

A Hybrid-SACD contains two separate data layers. Its conventional CD layer can be played on virtually any standard CD player. The disc also contains a high-resolution DSD SACD layer, which requires an SACD-compatible player. Hybrid-SACD therefore combines broad compatibility with the option of high-resolution playback.

This edition contains two Hybrid-SACDs featuring Verdi’s complete four-act opera Aida.

Tracklist – Giuseppe Verdi: Aida

Disc 1

1. Preludio
2. Si, corre voce che l’Etiope ardisca
3. Se quel guerrier io fossi!… Celeste Aida
4. Quale insolita gioia
5. Alta cagion v’aduna
6. Ritorna vincitor!
7. Possente Fthà
8. Mortal, diletto ai numi
9. Chi mai fra gl’inni e i plausi
10. Fu la sorte dell’armi a’tuoi funesta
11. Su! del Nilo al sacro lido
12. Gloria all’Egitto
13. Marcia trionfale
14. Vieni, o guerriero vindice
15. Salvator della patria, io ti saluto
16. Che veggo! Egli? Mio padre!
17. Quest’assisa ch’io vesto vi dica
18. Ma tu, Re, tu signore possente

Disc 2

1. O re, pei sacri numi
2. Gloria all’Egitto, ad Iside
3. O tu che sei d’Osiride
4. Qui Radames verrà! … O patria mia
5. Ciel! mio padre!
6. Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida…
7. Fuggiam gli ardori inospiti
8. Tu! Amonasro! tu! il re?
9. L’abborrita rivale a me sfuggia
10. Già i sacerdoti adunansi
11. Ohimè! morir mi sento!
12. Radames! Radames! Radames!
13. La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse
14. Presago il core della tua condanna
15. O terra, addio

Performers

• Aida: Renata Tebaldi – soprano
• Radames: Carlo Bergonzi – tenor
• Amneris: Giulietta Simionato – mezzo-soprano
• Amonasro: Cornell MacNeil – baritone
• Ramfis: Arnold van Mill – bass
• The King: Fernando Corena – bass
• Messenger: Piero de Palma – tenor
• Priestess: Eugenia Ratti – soprano
• Choir: Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
• Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

Technical specifications ESOTERIC ESSD-90327/28

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