Who was the best AIDA? — Page 2

#26

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:14pm

I fully admit that I haven't heard all the Aidas, but I'd definitely say Heather. I'm not sure if it's because she was the first one I heard or she truly was the best. Often, I tend to prefer the singer I hear first of a certain song -- I get the feeling that THIS is how the song was meant to be sung, and since Heather has such a distinctive voice, it's hard for me to imagine anyone else in the role.

I think Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child is the obvious choice for worst Aida, although I couldn't stand Maya Days's voice in the role either.

#27

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:15pm

I saw Heather, Simone, Maya Days, and Schele Williams...

Maya was the total package for me. The voice, the look, her acting..she was Aida in my book.

#28

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:15pm

I only saw Montego Glover @ NSMT.
But Heather is the best.

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"I have this mental image of Patti barreling down the street and pushing tourists out of her way." -colleen_lee

#29

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:15pm

Heather was by far the best, but Maya Days was my favorite. Simone was an incredible singer, but couldn't act to save her life. Deobrah Cox was surprisingly wonderful. Toni and Michelle were horrendous. Saycon and Schele Williams were kind of dull.

#30

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:21pm

Saw Paulette Ivory on tour with Jeremy and would have thought she was the best...but by chance I had happened to see her understudy Felicia R. Boswell in the matinee.

Felicia got EVERY laugh, we understood EVERY word she spoke and sang, and she and Jeremy had a great chemistry...missing with Paulette whose diction was precise to the point of being difficult to understand.

Felicia R. Boswell...

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If they could do it as good as me - they'd be up here.

#31

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:47pm

I thought that Deborah Cox was brilliant; her "Dance of the Robes" was breath-taking though I really did love Heather's rendition of the music...only got to see Cox but vocally speaking I think it's a tough race between thm.

Cheers,

Christopher

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www.christopherviolett.com

#32

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:35pm

Heather. No question about it.

In all my years of going to the theatre, her performance was easily the most fully-realized, embodied performance I have ever seen -- stage, film, or tv. And I don't say that lightly. I was moved beyond words. To this day, I can't say how amazing it was.

Talk about making lemons into lemonade.

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"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'" -- unknown

#33

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:40pm

Is Aida being made into a movie??

#34

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:41pm

Gilda Cruz Roma, Leontyne Price, Aprile Millo, Callas were all good in the real Aida - Verdi's.

Elton John's Aida sucks and is not worth mentioning.


Though watching Adam Pascal (can't act or sing) in the Radames role was a hoot. He is cute though , he should go to gay porn.

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 11:41 PM

#35

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:46pm

Heather... She will always be the one and only Aida for me.

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We've all got our junk and my junk is you!

#36

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:53pm

Heather was FIERCE . . . I think the only one that's been able to almost match her was Deborah.

#37

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:55pm

sadly I never saw Heather, & I'm sure she was the best (being the original & based on the posts here), but I have to give honerable mention to Maya Days, her voice is FANTASTIC.

#38

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:58pm

Heather = Amazing. Just Amazing.

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"Electricity sparks inside of me... and I'm free, I'm free."

#39

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:00am

Elaine Malbin in My Darlin' Aida

#40

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:01am

Elaine Malbin in My Darlin' Aida

#41

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:17am

Elaine Malbin in My Darlin' Aida was the best Aida on Broadway

#42

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:18am

Heather Headley owns Aida. I never saw a more passionate performance of the role. She exuberated a sense of royalty but with the sensitivity the character needs.

Deborah Cox is a close second, however. Stunt casting that worked brilliantly, what a concept.

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"I'm just a musical prostitute, my dear." ~ Freddie Mercury

#43

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:24am

I happened to have seen both Heather and Deborah. Deborah, in my opinion blew Heather out of the water. Deborah Cox was far and away the best Aida. I wish it was still running and she was still in it!

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"So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."-Wicked

#44

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:32am

The original touring cast was my favorite. I know their ages bothered some people, but I thought it added depth to a project that wasn't full of it to begin with.

And comparing the operatic AIDA to the musical is ridiculous. Two different things with two different intents.

Although, Leontyne is obviously the ultimate Aida - in any form.

#45

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:34am

PS my picture is of Deborah Cox taking her final bow, at the final show of Aida, which I snagged when I was on the front row, closing night!

JEALOUS?!?

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"So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."-Wicked

#46

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:35am

Apparently, the characters are all technically supposed to be a good deal younger than any of the actors who played them were, so I guess it's not that big of a deal if the tour cast was a bit older than the Broadway cast, or whatever.

If Adam Pascal could not sing or act, he would not still be a working actor/musician. Say you don't like him, but it's absurd to say he *can't* do it. I'm so sick of hearing that nonsensical, BS argument. Yes, people in the industry get away with finding work on minimal talent, but he wouldn't get the kind of stuff he *has* gotten with zero talent.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 4/27/06 at 12:35 AM

#47

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:37am

Heather! One of THE greatest live performances I've ever seen.

#48

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:40am

Em - I've never seen that as a criteria. And since they were all in the same 'range', it worked for me (and for the audiences I saw it with, as well.) Still, my favorite performance - and role - was Kelli as Amneris

#49

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:41am

Definitely Heather! The original cast was simply amazing!

#50

re: Who was the best AIDA?

Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:42am

I never really had an issue with the age, either. It's never said how old they're "suppposed" to be, but there's a theory that says if historically accurate (which the show is *clearly* not!), they would all only be about twenty.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.