Verdi - Aida / Oren, Zajick, Theatre of San Carlo
For many devotees ofAida, the size of a  performance's production budget is the most  important consideration. In this respect, the  San Carlo Opera Company falls behind its chief  video competitors, La Scala and the Metropolitan  Opera, particularly in the lavish, half-hour  triumphal scene in Act II. But in its more modest  way, with only one singer (Dolora Zajick) who has  a strong international reputation, it gives a good  musical account of Verdi's score.The costumes and choreography are undistinguished  but adequate; the singers in the principal roles  are visually less than ideal but more convincing  than Pavarotti at La Scala and properly impassioned  in the best Italian provincial style. The chorus  and orchestra are capable and Daniel Oren keeps the  music under firm control. With more splendor in the  spectacular scenes, this could have been surprisingly  competitive. As is, it's more likable than one might expect.--Joe McLellan