AIDA

Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by A. Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario
by C. du Locle and A. Mariette
First performed at the Opera of Cairo on the 24th of December 1871

Production Teatro Cervantes de Malaga and Telon Producciones

Aida MARIBEL ORTEGA
Radamés ALEJANDRO ROY
Amneris MALI CORBACHO
Amonasro LUIS CANSINO
Ramfis FELIPE BOU
King og Egypt CHRISTIAN DIAZ

Orquesta Filarmonica de Malaga
Coro de Opera de Malaga

Stage director Ignacio Garcia
Chorus director Salvador Vazquez
Conductor Arturo Diez Boscovich

3.10 h (w/intermission)

Supported by INAEM
(Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escenicas y de la Musica)
With the collaboration of UNICAJA FUNDACION

In 1869, a theatre for Italian operas was inaugurated in Cairo with the performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto. The viceroy Ismail Baja, who greatly admired the composer, wanted to commission Verdi to write an opera for the opening of the Suez Canal. Following the numerous setbacks he had with Don Carlo in Paris, Verdi was recalcitrant to compose a new opera, but changed his mind on reading Camille du Locle’s synopsis, based on a story by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. Although the composer entrusted the libretto to Antonio Ghislanzonie, he himself intervened more than ever in its dramatic development, seeking to synthesize Italian operatic practice with the French grand opera. Aida is one of Verdi’s most classic operas, and also one of his most extraordinary, with a score that contains some of the recurring themes of his work: the love triangle, the political and social background, the arrogance of dictators, the humiliation of the oppressed, parent-child feelings, jealousy, forbidden love, treason, solitude, death,…

The date of the Suez Canal’s grand opening finally arrived. Although everything was ready, including sets and costumes which had been commissioned to the Opéra de Paris, they could not be shipped because the city was sieged by the Prussians. The peace treaty was finally signed in 1871, and the city of Cairo feverishly prepared for Aida’s first performance, which took place on the 24th of December that year. Verdi did not attend the premiere, and learned about the opera’s huge success by telegram.

Opera and Recitals 30th Opera Season