VERDI: “AIDA.” Montserrat Caballe, Fiorenza Cossotto, Placido...

VERDI: “AIDA.” Montserrat Caballe, Fiorenza Cossotto, Placido Domingo, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov; Chorus of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti. EMI CDCC-47271 (three compact discs). Only 13 years separate the original issue of this recording and its re-release on CD, yet for the level of talent and temperament displayed here, it might be a century. Where, today, will one find an Aida of the caliber of Caballe’s with its breathtaking legato, its surprising urgency, its poised, gossamer high C in “O patria mia”? And where is there an Amneris to compare with Cossotto’s powerhouse princess, the genuine article despite its exaggerated chest tones? In contrast, Domingo’s Radames sounds premature, effortful and a bit juiceless, Cappuccilli captures little of Amonasro’s vengeful fervor and Muti’s conducting substitutes speed for color and atmospherics. The digital remastering shows its age.