A rare live recording of Maria Callas' performance as Aida in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. The recording took place in Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London on the 10th of June 1953.
Aida....................................................Maria Callas Radames.............................................Kurt Baum Amneris..............................................Giulietta Simionato Amonasro...........................................Jess Walters Il Re d'Egitto.......................................Michael Langdon Ramfis...............................................Giulio Neri Un Messaggero...................................Hector Thomas Una Sacerdotessa...............................Joan Sutherland
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Conductor...........................................Sir John Barbirolli Director..............................................Michael Pickersgill Benthall Chorus Master....................................Douglas Robinson
Watch videos with other singers performing Ciel! mio Padre!:
AIDA entra cautamente Qui Radamès verrà!... Che vorrà dirmi? Io tremo... Ah! se tu vieni A recarmi, o crudel, l'ultimo addio, Del Nilo i cupi vortici Mi daran tomba... e pace forse, e oblio.
O patria mia, mai più ti revedrò! O cieli azzurri, o dolci aure native, Dove sereno il nio mattin brillò, O verdi colli, o profumate rive, O patria mia, mai più ti revedrò! O fresche valli, o queto asil beato, Che un dì promesso dall'amor mi fu; Or che d'amore il sogno è dileguato, O patria mia, non ti vedrò mai più!
Entra Amonasro Ciel! mio padre!
AMONASRO A te grave cagion M'adduce, Aida. Nulla sfugge al mio Sguardo. D'amor ti struggi Per Radamès... ei t'ama... qui lo attendi. Dei Faraon la figlia è tua rivale... Razza infame, aborrita e a noi fatale!
AIDA E in suo potere io sto! Io, d'Amonasro Figlia!
English Libretto or Translation:
AIDA approaching cautiously Radamès is coming here!… What can he want to say to me? I tremble... Ah! If you should come, oh cruel one, to bid me a last farewell, the dark swirling waters of the Nile shall be my grave... and bring me peace, perhaps, and oblivion.
Oh my homeland, I shall never see you again! Oh blue skies, oh soft native breezes, where the light of my youth shone in tranquillity; oh green hills, perfumed shores, oh my homeland, I shall never see you again! Oh cool valleys, oh blessed, tranquil refuge which once was promised me by love; now that the dream of love has faded, oh my homeland, I shall never see you again!
Amonasro enters.
Heavens! My father!
AMONASRO A grave cause brings me to you, Aida. Nothing escapes my gaze. You pine with love for Radamès… he loves you... you are waiting for him here. The daughter of the Pharaohs is your rival… a race accursed, abhorred, fatal to us!
AIDA And I am in her power! I, Amonasro's daughter!