What a beautiful casting for Aïda!!! And Montserrat Caballé is amazingly delightful in Aïda. Placido Domingo so fantastic !!!!Viva Verdi like that.

Caballe's live Aidas generally don't match the level of the one she recorded in the studio under Muti. She is in frazzled voice in the Met and La Scala pirates that are available. This one finds her in much more relaxed form, perhaps because she was singing in Barcelona in front of an audience that truly loved her. Her top is secure and strong without being strident, her pianissimmi are exquisite, and she is fully invested in the character. Domingo is also in excellent shape, singing with great passion and ringing B-flats . No wonder the two leading ladies are going crazy over him!Berini fully justifies her reputation here as one of the last great Italian mezzo. Her top is exciting, the middle voluptuous, her characterization to the manner born. Would she were with us today! This type of gutsy mezzo singing is mostly unheard today.Mastromei is a terrific Amonasro, one of the best I've heard. I've always liked Howell and he sings with great beauty and distinction. A young Juan Pons is heard as the king. Chorus and orchestra are very good and Masini leads a beautiful performance. It should be mentioned that the choral portion of the Triumphal scene is absent from this recording (it starts at "Salvator della patria").The sound is good, the voices only slightly recessed and very audible. This was transferred from records and there are a few pops and skips (one during the prelude, one in the Amneris/Radames scene).Aida lovers and fans of these singers will love this!