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National Theatre Belgrade

Mezzo-soprano (+1)

Jelena Vlahović

Amneris

Mezzo-soprano (+2)

Dragana Del Monaco

Soprano (+2)

Jadranka Jovanović

Stage director

Stage director (+3)

Ognian Draganoff

Conductor

Peter Leonard

Tenor

Janko Sinadinović

Radames

Dušan Plazinić

Bass

Ivan Tomašev

Ramfis

Nenad Jakovljević

The King of Egypt

Baritone (+2)

Miodrag D Jovanović

Amonasro

Choreographer

Choreographer (+1)

Konstantin Kostjukov

Soprano (+1)

Sonja Šarić

Aida

National Theatre

Soprano

Jasmina Trumbetaš Petrović

Ana Rupčić

Sanja Kerkez

CELESTE AIDA!
– Synthesis of the Italian operatic romance  –
Three years after he had written Don Carlos, on July 16, 1870, in a letter to his friend, Verdi wrote: “As I have already told you I am busy. Well, guess with what? I am composing an opera for Cairo! I shall not go there to stage it: I am afraid of being mummified down there”. However, he was not mummified, he was  - glorified. Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, commissioned Verdi to write an opera for the new Оpera House at Cairo, to be performed for the first time on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal. Archeologist Edouard Mariette Bey, famous for his excavations at Memphis and Thebes wrote the rough draft of the story. Camille du Locle, a former director of the Opera Comique, Verdi’s collaborator on the libretto for Don Carlos, dramatized this text. Finally, Antonio Ghislanzoni, poet, journalist and novelist made of it an opera libretto, with certain interventions made by composer himself. Verdi visited Cairo and Egypt in order to experience an ambient and to get inspiration on the spot. After only four months, within an unbelievable short period of time, in the middle of November 1870, the score of Aida was ready. Scenery and costumes were made in Paris, special “Aida-fanfares” were designed for grand triumphal scene, main roles were assigned, and Aida was performed for the first time on December 24, 1871 at the new Opera House at Cairo, with a great success. That triumph was repeated at La Scala, on February 8, 1872 (thirty-two recalls!). Shortly afterwards, Aida was premiered and brilliantly received at the main Italian and European stages (at the Berlin Royal Opera on April 20, 1874, two days later at the Paris Grand Opera, and by the end of April at the Vienna State Opera). Verdi requested Ghislanzoni to write a text that would clearly show and describe the situation, and that could inspire him to express musically, with persuasive strength,  basic human emotions and passions such as: happiness, sadness, love, hate, curse, revenge and death. Beyond doubt, Ghislanzoni’s libretto enabled him to create a firm music dramaturgy, which deepest purpose was to express the depth of the human soul in the music and through the music. Set pattern of  the French grand opera, applied to Aida, consistent and effective, but in a way empty and shallow, Verdi enriches with deep human drama based on the conflicts between human passions and tragic dualism between love and patriotism. Realist by his artistic method, Verdi illustrates, within the romantic plot, things, events and characters concisely and persuasively, giving their genuine nature. In that way Verdi’s opera becomes “character opera”. Regardless of the fact that in Verdi’s scores orchestra is not anymore only simplified accompaniment of the melodic line but it shapes the characters, emphasizes the dramatic moments, gives the impression of the landscape and atmosphere of the scene, yet, in the spirit of true Italian tradition, the main expressive factor remains the sung melodic line, which carries the dramatic power,  and influences and enriches the other elements of musical and dramatic expression. The most touching drama realized through the unforgettable sound, musical-scenic piece that expresses a synthesis of the Italian operatic romance, Verdi’s Aida was and still is one of the most attractive pieces of the large opera repertoire. Celeste Aida!

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