Aida is a grand opera created by Giuseppe Verdi, who was invited by the Governor of Egypt for the purpose of celebrating the navigation of the Suez Canal, which was premiered in 1871. The plot centers on the love between Aida (an Ethiopian prisoner of war) and Radames (an Egyptian hero). Encountered with the choice for true love and patriotic loyalty, various roles of this opera are in a dilemma. The whole work is full of strong contrasting feelings, such as Aida’s attachment for her motherland and love for her sweetheart, Radames' celebration for the victory and decision on 'unjust act' and Egyptian princess Amneris’ overbearing possessiveness for Radames. The whole opera is well-established so that the audiences feel depressed for the bitter love story.
To accurately roll out geographical outlook and cultural characteristics of the whole story, Verdi often visited the museums to appreciate Egyptian antiquities and consulted from Egyptian experts. He integrated ancient musical materials into vivid and profound understanding of the opera expression. Grand stage set of Aida makes itself suitable to be staged in the open air. In finale of Act II, Triumphal March and Chorus is representative section due to shocking scenes and great music. Moreover, Radames' Celeste Aida and Aida's Ritorna vincitor are both exquisite and unforgettable works.
Currently NCPA and New National Theatre of Japan work together to stage a concert version of the opera Aida, which will not only demonstrate the extraordinary musical charm of this classical opera once again, but also pay tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between China and Japan.
