Aida

Two nations are at war, but in the middle of the battlefield a far more intimate drama is unfolding, and one that could have unexpected consequences. The Egyptian princess Amneris loves the commander Radamès. His love, however, belongs to the captive Aida, who no one knows is the princess of the hostile Ethiopian land. Unbeknownst to any of them, they will soon face a choice that will decide a matter of life and death…

Verdi’s Aida is one of his masterpieces and one that lacks none of the customary ingredients of romantic Italian opera – love, jealousy, political intrigue, large chorus scenes and inescapable tragic death. It goes without saying that a great singing cast, in this case including Csilla Boross, Sung Kyu Park, Luis Cansino and Aleš Jenis, goes hand in hand with this. This is also to be the first time that our company is to collaborate with our junior ballet company National Theatre Brno 2 on this production. It was Verdi who usually chose the themes to be set to his music, but in this case an offer came from outside. The opera was originally commissioned by the Egyptian Viceroy Isma´il Pasha for the ceremonial opening of the Suez Canal and for the newly built Khedivial Opera House in Cairo. Verdi was initially hesitant, but the theme of ancient Egypt based on a story by archaeologist Auguste Mariette finally attracted his attention, not because of the pomp it offered, but because of the intimate drama hidden beneath the layers of political intrigue. Thanks to this, he wrote a captivating story that remains relevant to this day and is full of impressive music, such as famous arias such as “Celeste Aida”, its triumphal march and the opera’s final heartbreaking quartet. Productions usually focus on the secret lovers Radamès and Aida, but it is interesting to look at the whole story through the eyes of Amneris and her love for Radamès, whom she is determined to win at any cost, unaware that the price will ultimately be human lives, including the life of her chosen one.

Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto Antonio Ghislanzoni

Artistic team
Conductor: Jakub Klecker
Stage Director: Magdalena Švecová
Set Design: Marek Cpin
Costume Design: Linda Boráros
Lighting Desing: Přemysl Janda
Chorus Master: Martin Buchta
Dramaturgy: Patricie Částková

Duration: 2hours and 55 minutes, 1 intermission.
Staged in the Italian original with Czech, English and German titles.

Aprofound musical and theatrical experience is delivered in this production by top-class singers.

Thanks to the magically conceived and expressively powerful dance, the dancers of the NdB 2 Ballet ensemble remain unforgettable. They are the pulse of the story. The excellent choreography is the work of Marek Svobodník.

Conductor Jakub Klecker demonstrated — right from the beginning of the opera — his remarkable ability to achieve clarity, both in terms of musical content and expression. The coordination of the strings was phenomenal, and the first violin (Lenka Kuželová) was outstanding.

Director Magdalena Švecová succeeded in humanising the grand romantic opera.

Verdi‘s Aida opened the new season of the National Theatre Brno Opera in truly grand style.The premiere evening offered the audience an extraordinary experience in many forms.