Aida from the Bregenz Festival

(Past) Sun, Sep 19 at 3 pm (Past) Sun, Sep 26 at 7 pm Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space $22; Members $20; Five or more $19: Members Five or more $17 film music theatre Opera in Cinema

Aida

Giuseppe Verdi

Opera in Four Acts

From the Bregenz Festival, Bregenz, Austria, performed Summer 2009

131 min, 1 intermission

Conductor Carlo Rizzi

Director: Felix Breisach
Staging and Concept: Graham Vick
Sets and Costume: Paul Brown
Choreography: Ron Howell
Orchestra: Vienna Symphonic Orchestra
Chorus: The Katowice City Singers’ Ensemble
Camerata Silesia
Polish Radio Choir Krakow
Bregenz Festival Chorus
Chorus Masters: Anna Szostak, Wlodzimierz Siedlik, Benjamin Lack

Cast

King of Egypt: Kevin Short
Amneris: Iano Tamar
Aida: Tatiana Serjan
Radames: Rubens Pelizzari
Ramphis: Tigran Martirossian
Amonasro: Iain Paterson
Messenger: Ronald Samm
Priestess: Elisabetta Martorana

“Breathtakingly striking visual effects” -- Agence France-Presse

“A feast for the eyes and the ears” -- ZDF

“A triumph” -- The Sunday Times

“Much more than a traditional open-air production” -- Der Standard, Vienna

Synopsis:

Act I
Garden of the Royal Palace at Memphis. The high priest, Ramfis, announces to Radames, Captain of the Royal Guard, that the Ethiopians are revolting. Radames hopes he will be chosen to lead the Egyptian forces, and thus claim Aida (the favorite slave of Princess Amneris and, unbeknownst to the Egyptians, the Ethiopian king’s daughter) as his reward. Although Aida and Radames are in love, Aida is still fearful for her kinsmen and especially for King Amonasro, her father. Furthermore, Princess Amneris is in love with Radames, although the feelings are not returned. When Radames joyfully accepts the job of leading the charge against the Ethiopians, Amneris and Aida both rush to the temple to bless his journey—although Aida’s loyalty is torn between her homeland and the man she loves.

Act II
The Ethiopians have been defeated, and Radames is returning to Thebes. Amneris tricks her slave Aida into indirectly revealing her love for Radames, which makes the princess jealous.
Radames makes a triumphant entrance to the city, with a procession of newly captured prisoners, including Aida’s father, King Amonasro. Amonasro makes an eloquent plea on behalf of his people, but does not reveal his noble title. Radames is moved by his speech, and requests that as his reward, the Ethiopian prisoners not be put to death. The King grants Radames’ wish, and also gives Amneris’ hand in marriage.

INTERMISSION

Act III
It is night, near a temple where Amneris and the high priest Ramfis prepare for the princess’ wedding to Radames. Amonasro orders his daughter to learn from Radames the secret of his military plans against the Ethiopians. As Aida obtains the information from Radames, Amneris and Ramfis appear. They have overheard his act of treason. Ramades is taken prisoner by the imperial guards as Aida escapes with her father.

Act IV
Radames is on trail for treason, and his life is at stake. Amneris offers him a bargain: if he will renounce Aida and accept her love, he will be freed. He refuses, uninterested in a life without Aida. He is then sentenced to be buried alive in a vault underneath the temple. Amneris is horrified; although Radames has rejected her, she still loves him, but his fate is sealed. Aida joins Radames voluntarily in the tomb, sharing his tragic fate.