October 29, 2009
Aida
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009 Commissioned by the Egyptian viceroy and opera lover Ismail Pasha for the ceremonial opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Verdi’s Aida comes to Tokyo in a blockbuster production by the Prague National Theatre Opera. The staging by Massimo Gasparon features buff ladies in gold lamé parading in […]
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009
Commissioned by the Egyptian viceroy and opera lover Ismail Pasha for the ceremonial opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Verdi’s Aida comes to Tokyo in a blockbuster production by the Prague National Theatre Opera. The staging by Massimo Gasparon features buff ladies in gold lamé parading in front of a faux pyramid, promising a juicy spectacle for opera newbies. Opera-philes, meanwhile, have something to cheer about in the form of the singers chosen for the leads: preeminent sopranos Michèle Crider and Dimitra Theodossiou take turns as tragic Ethiopian princess Aida, while Mario Maranini and Efe Kislali play her paramour, the Egyptian warlord Radames.
Aida
Verdi’s opera performed in Italian by the Prague State Opera. Oct 30, 1 & 6:30pm; Oct 31, 5pm, ¥9,500-¥24,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Ueno. Tel: 03-3828-2111.
