EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC - BAHRAIN - |
PROGRAMME FOR 18 JULY 2001 |
AIDA Opera by GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) |
Opera in four acts Libretto: Antonio Ghislanzoni and Camille du Locle, after a synopsis by Egyptologist Auguste Mariette Bey Premiere: 24 December 1871, Cairo |
CAST Aida, Ethiopian princess, daughter of Amonasro Amneris, Egyptian princess, daughter of the Pharaoh Radamès, Egyptian army commander Amonasro, Ethiopian King Ramfis, High Priest King of Egypt, the Pharaoh |
- Maria Chiara (soprano) - Ghena Dimitrova (soprano) - Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) - Juan Pons (baritone) - Nicolai Ghiaurov (bass) - Paata Burchuladze (bass) |
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan conducted by LORIN MAAZEL |
In November 1869 Khedive Ismail, the ruler of Egypt (who three years later would contribute so handsomely to the fund for Wagner's theatre in Bayreuth), announced plans to open a new opera house in Cairo as part of the celebrations surrounding the opening of the Suez Canal. He asked Verdi to compose an 'inaugural hymn' for its opening night, which was planned for November 1870. Verdi wasn't keen on this idea, but in April 1870 he responded enthusiastically to Ismail's alternative suggestion that he compose an opera on an ancient Egyptian subject. Verdi set to work, but that summer war broke out between Prussia and France, and the props and scenery for Aida, which were being made in the French capital, could not be taken out of the city - an incidental inconvenience, it turned out, as Verdi couldn't finish the music on time. The Cairo opera house opened instead with a performance of Rigoletto, and Verdi eventually finished work in December 1871, just weeks before the premiere in Cairo. SYNOPSIS ACT 1 The Ethiopian people have begun to fight back against the occupying Egyptians, and their king Amonasro has crossed the border into Egypt at the head of his army. A messenger arrives in Memphis with news that the sacred city of Thebes is threatened by the Ethiopians. The priests ask the god Isis to whom they should entrust their army, and Radamès, and Egyptian commander, hopes he will be chosen. He is also hopeful that he might one day marry his beloved Aida, an Ethiopian slave girl assigned to Amneris, the daughter of the Pharaoh. But there are complications, for Amneris also loves Radamès. At a temple ceremony, the commander has his armour blessed by the High Priest Ramfis. ACT 2 Amneris suspects Aida's love for Radamès and tricks her into a confession. Amneris swears that Aida and Radamès will never be together and taunts her by forcing her to watch Radamès ride into the city with the routed Ethiopian army in chains. The city stops to greet the Egyptian hero and when he is offered any reward, he asks that the Ethiopian slaves be released. All except Amonasro, who has confessed to being Aida's father (but not to being the King of Ethiopia), are set free. As further reward, Radamès is offered Amneris's hand in marriage. ACT 3 Aida comes down the Nile to meet Radamès. Amonasro persuades his daughter to obtain from Radamès details of the Egyptian army's plans, as he intends to lead the Ethiopians against Egypt. When Radamès arrives, Aida begs him to elope, but before they can flee, Amneris and Ramfis intervene. Radamès gives himself up as a traitor - a tactic that allows Aida and her father to escape. ACT 4 Amneris visits Radamès in his cell and promises him his freedom if he denounces Aida. Unrepentant, he is sentenced to be buried alive. As the stone closes the tomb, he declares his misery at never seeing Aida again. But she has hidden herself in the tomb so that they might die together. As Amneris is heard praying for Radamès, the lovers die in each other's arms. |
Recorded live at the La Scala theatre, Milan, 1986 Sung in Italian, with English sub-titles Director: Luigi Ronconi |
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