#aïda

[noughticalcrossings]

Go forth, Egyptian heroes,

to the sacred banks of the Nile.

From every heart let the cry sound out –

War and death, death to the invader

Il Re, Aïda, Maggio Musicale Florentino (2011), Arena di Verona (2012)

Originally commissioned for the opening of the Suez Canal, Aïda premiered in Cairo in 1871 and in Milan in 1872. A grand, sweeping tragedy by Giuseppe Verdi, it tells the doomed love story of Aïda, a captured Ethiopian princess, and Radamès, the captain of the Egyptian forces. While their countries wage war, the two are torn between their loyalties to their countries, kings, and loves.

Aïda is an opera I struggle to get into, and certainly has its issues (including a disturbing tendency to slap paintwork on everyone that runs the gamut from Blackface to bright gold to questionable futuristic settings), but it really does live up to the name of Grand Opera with its huge choruses, magnificent sets, and massive triumphal scenes that set a challenging precedent for operas that followed.

(Background stolen from the corner niche of the tomb of Akhtihotep, because I was not about to draw all those hieroglyphs, plus a glimpse of yesterday’s “finished” piece from before I found a higher-quality reference image and fixed some costume details)

[opera-ghosts]

125 years ago 1901 Verdi's „Aida“ at The Metropolitan Opera with the Soprano Margaret MacIntyte. She only sung eight times at the MET and six times on tour with the Ensemble.

[eopederson]

Arènes de Nîmes, décor de la production "Aïda", 1984.

For me 1984 was a bit of a wonder year, including spending much of the summer in Europe, mainly France. We rented a borie near the town of Saint-Jean-du-Gard in the Cevennes, about 60 km from Nîmes, and took advantage of the summer to attend various cultural events nearby including the opera staged in the Roman era arena. "Aïda" was perfect for the staging, complete to the use of camels and other animals. The opera had been written to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal, and it was intended for outdoor performance.

[fidjiefidjie]

Bonne matinée 👘❤️🆕️

Maïa Barouh 🎶 ChinXoise

(Aïda)

[skirtmag]

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

The Opéra National de Paris has announced that it will stream its new production of Verdi’s “Aida” on Arte on Feb. 18 and 21. The production

and in more Good Opera News, mark your calendars on February 18 and 21, all ye fans of Jonas Kaufmann, Sondra Radvanovsky, Ludovic Tézier, and/or Verdi!

[aos-biospec]

Briana Venskus : Marvels: Agents of Blackpool

[earlymoderndance]

Maria Gambarelli (1900-1990).  Handwritten Letter (4.5” x 7’), August 31, 1984

In this letter, she recounts the two most memorable events of her career.

Born in La Spezia, Italy, her family immigrated to America when she was seven.  Maria studied dance at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School, and debuted in Aïda in 1914.  She would later become its prima ballerina (1939-1941).  

She choreographed, directed a dance group that toured North America, and appeared on radio and in several American and Italian movies.  One of her dance groups would go on to be known as the famous Radio City Music Hall “Rockettes”.

Image source:  https://dantebea.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/baron-adolph-de-meyer-maria-gambarelli-1916-via-livejournal.jpg