Elena Obraztsova as Amneris "Jugement Scene"Aida

[OperaMystery80]

Elena is a magnificent Amneris I love the dark and dramatic bite and the big sound, however most consider her to be singing in too much of a Slavic tone and not the proper Italian sound which is irrelevant to me. She's fabulous. In this 1987 production however from Budapest, Hungary the chorus sang in Hungarian despite the Italian singing from Domingo and Obraztsova and the rest of the cast

[SandrineSoprano]

Dramatic setting, too...

[victoriusBP]

ELENA IS THE BEST AMNERIS!

BRAVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

RAMPHIS WAS FERENC BEGÁNYI!!  HE WAS BEST RAMPHIS!!

[ManricoV]

With all respekt to evryone who like Obraztsva, but I don't relly like her like Amneris. My favorite Amneris are Oralia DOMNGUEZ, and Irina ARKHIPOVA.

[fierysensual]

Elena Obraztsova at 48 years old is one of the best Amneris as Verdi HAS WRITTEN! Her chest voice is stunning! What a voice! I could just imagine her at her vocal peak!

[fierysensual]

A true VERDIAN MEZZO - with soprano extension at the top to handle the Amneris tessitura. BRAVA ELENA!

[ManricoV]

I would say exactly what you said but not on Obraztosva but on Oralia Dominguez.

But what shall we do if we think different?...

[fierysensual]

ManricoV

I have seen several Amneris on stage @Met & heard several acclaimed Aida recordings & have some Amneris favorites, Obraztsova is one of them although I heard her past her prime live but her recordings are a stunner. Oralia I have NEVER heard before you mentioned her. From the You Tube clips & some recordings with Callas from the library, temporarily, I do not like her technique (vibrato, pitch, enunciation). I will defer my personal verdict on her depending on quality recording of her.

[fierysensual]

ManricoV

I say TEMPORARILY I do not like Oralia. It is UNFAIR to judge someone's art basing on You Tube clips and some horrible live sound recording of Oralia or any other singer. Could you perhaps suggest some quality recordings of her, I could change my mind b/c her timbre I agree seems to be a stunner. Or it is just a matter of taste. She seems 'ancient' but hey I love Callas, like caviar or blue cheese, an acquired taste.

[ManricoV]

Fierysensual,

I understand very well that everyone can have their own favorites. I said that I (personally) do not like Obrazstova as Amneris. She may have very good technique, but she is too heavy for this role, I think. By contrast, Domiguez, for my own opinion, was perfect for this role. She had a beautiful voice with beautiful mezzo-soprano tones and high notes (obviously, it's not just because, I like her Amneris). I have listened to her Amneris from recording with Callas and del Monaco

[ManricoV]

Fierysensual,

Unfortunately, there are not many recordings of Dominguez (as I know). I have a disc with various arias, where you can hear that she had a beautiful voice.

Perhaps it is "personal preference", but that does not mean that we can not exchange opinions with each other. :)

[demore50]

Re rusbariton. 1987год.Будапешт. Образцовой 50 лет. BRAVA ELENA!!!

[rusbaritone]

What year is this from?

[chrishot10]

The ultimate Amneris for me...

[zol040]

This was a verry interesting performance, because the choir did not know the role in original language. They sang in hungarian. But the solists are greatests: Radames: Domingo, Aida: Ilona Tokody, Ramfis: Ferenc Begányi (+), Amonasro: Sándor Sólyom-Nagy, Il Re: László Polgár

[elamigosanti]

Nobody sings the judgment scene as strong as her. This is her very own scene.

[aurele65]

Ce n'est pas mon Amneris préférée. Elle ne m'emeut pas dans cette scène mais ce qu'elle fait est très satisfaisant. Et surtout, quel tempérament!

[jeffchester]

Very dramatic voice for this. Brava Obraztsova!