Eternal power of love

by Petar PLAMENOV

28 July (Thursday), 2011
Aida - Opera by Giussepe Verdi

Start: 21:00
Open Air Theatre
International Music Festival Varna Summer 2011
Address:
Varna, Sea Garden
Phone: 052 61 28 03

Conducted by: Ivan Filev
Cast: Nadia Krysteva, Bojko Tzvetanov, Niko Isakov, Linka Stoyanova, Apostol Milenkov

 

Giuseppe Verdi was not a great traveller. At various periods of his life, he spent some time in Paris, London and called at various German towns on the way but he loved the solitude of his country estate at Busseto. For this reason, he did not attend the production of Aida in Cairo, on 24 December, 1871. The production was magnificent and no expenses were spared for the chorus, costumes and scenery. Aida was given in Milan on 8 February, 1872, and produced at Covent Garden four years later. Wherever given, it was recognised as the Master's finest work. The Italian sculptor of the day, Giulio Monteverde, knew Verdi well and wrote, "[ ] his deep-set eyes had peculiar phosphorescence, looked upon the world and men steadily and calmly, free from all illusions".

Set in ancient Egypt, Aida is both a heartbreaking love story and an epic drama full of spectacular crowd scenes. Verdi signed a contract to write the new opera for its premiere in Cairo in January 1871. Giulio Ricordi showed his joy and Aida was born. Camille Du Locle, the French librettist, together with the Manager of Paris Opera-Comique and a Verdi's friend, showed the composer what they had in mind for the opera to suit the occasion. On reading the detailed report in April 1870, Verdi agreed to the plan. Preparations for the cast began in autumn, not only for the premiere in Cairo but also for the first performance in Italy just over one month later.



The Franco-Prussian war erupted in the midst of the preparations. Aida was put back to December 1871 in Cairo and to February 1872 in Milan. There were other problems along the way. One of them was the choice of the conductor. In the end, Verdi reluctantly agreed for Giovanni Bottesini to conduct the Cairo premiere. The Milan premiere was to be conducted by Franco Faccio.

For the role of Amneris (sung by a mezzosoprano), Verdi endorsed that it be sung by Eleonora Grossi in Cairo and by the Austrian Maria Waldmann in Milan. For the role of Aida (sung by a soprano), Verdi had only one lady in mind - Teresa Stolz. On 23 September 1871, Teresa Stolz and the other singers paid a visit to Villa Verdi at Sant'Agata to study their parts under the composer's guidance.

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