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Aida storica 1913 [ Author Michael Daniel Watson ] [ From category THE Articles ] [ Subcategory Arena din Verona ] [ Article date: 2024-09-30 ] [ From city Verona ] [ Country România ]   "Aida" in Verona 100 + 1. A hundred emotions plus one, yours! Arena di Verona, the most Italian place on Earth! These are the slogans through which Arena di Verona has chosen this year, 2024, to promote the Opera Festival that it has been organizing since 1913 and which has now reached its 101st edition! Why 101 and not 111? Because there were three interruptions, totaling 10 years in which the festival was not held. The two world wars plus the covid-19 pandemic. "Aida" was the most important show presented by Arena di Verona since the first edition. In 1982, Arena resumed the 1913 version, presenting other versions of stagings, generally more modern, and renamed this one "Aida storica", meaning "historical Aida". It is, however, ... "Aida perfetta"! "Aida" perfect! That`s what I called it in the title of an article written a few years ago and I still think the same today. I have seen "Aida" many times - at the Arena di Verona alone I have seen about 5 versions! - and I firmly state that the "historical" version at the Arena di Verona is the most beautiful! Or, so as not to bore you, go and see it! "Tu sei regina del mio pensier! " - "You are the queen of my thoughts! " The sets highlight Ancient Egypt. Two large obelisks on the sides, eight columns (in two groups of four) are aligned parallel to the edge of the stage. The costumes seem to have come from Antiquity, they are predominantly white with gold on the edges. Two rows of soldiers (in brown) with spears. "Numi, pieta del mio dolor! " The wind blows gently, trying to ease Aida`s suffering. The arrangement of the columns is modified when they represent the temple of the immense Phta, they have the shape of a V. Then 2 4 2. Amneris`s room. 2 4 2 is the arrangement of the columns, 2 on the left, 4 in the center, 2 on the right. The little black ones are about 10 and they are white. :-) In fact, they are white, because they are girls! They have costumes with gold and a green headband. The triumphal march is... triumphal! It is the Arena di Verona! Grande! Overwhelming! And, above all, indescribable! Hundreds of soldiers, ballerinas, ballerinas, priests, most in white, some in gold, red, green. And behind the stage, above it, there are three rows of soldiers (in brown) with spears or torches. The climax, the 4 horses (riders) that come to the edge of the stage and bend their right leg, saluting the audience! (Please, the second one didn`t want to bend his leg. :-) ) And the audience applauds ecstatically! The prisoners, in white, are slightly startled when they are brought in, but they complete the overall picture chromatically. Break after an hour and a half! About twenty minutes! Nile. The longest river in the world, 6650 km. The Adige, 415 km, the second longest river in Italy, after the Po, passes through Verona. :-) When "Aida" is at the Arena, the Nile also passes through Verona. :-) Four columns on each side of the stage. Many green trees and white steam in the center, among the trees. And an obelisk. Amneris is in white. The moon is right behind the obelisk. Aida, also in white, with gold on her arms. Amneris is accompanied by 8 soldiers. 4 run after Amonasro and Aida, 4 surround Radames. In Verona, the opera pauses at this point. "Venti minuti circa". Yes, "circa 20 minutes". This is what is announced over the loudspeakers in Italian, English, German and French. A structure about 2 meters high "rises" on stage, supported by a "forest" of square columns, above which is a large platform on which stands the 7-meter statue of the goddess Isis. But even in the city of Shakespeare`s eternal lovers, Romeo and Juliet, you can`t buy love! The priests come, in white, among the square columns that support the structure. The moon is covered by clouds when the verdict is pronounced. For the fourth act, Giuseppe Verdi composed both the music and... the lyrics! In the interval before the music begins, torches are lit behind the stage - soldiers positioned like the large arms of the letter A -, as well as a row of soldiers with torches along the entire length of the top row of the Arena lawn. "La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse! " - "The fatal stone above me has closed! " Radames and Aida are down below, in front of the columned structure. Above, on the floor, next to the statue, there are 8 girls in white, who are praying on their knees and making artistic movements, like ballet, especially with their hands. Radames and Aida walk slowly among the columns, under the floor. Amneris comes up, next to the other girls. She is in black. She sits down facing the statue. The stage lights go out, only the torches remain lit.

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30-09-2024: Aida storica 1913
"Aida" in Verona 100 + 1. A hundred emotions plus one, yours!

Arena di Verona, the most Italian place on Earth!

These are the slogans through which Arena di Verona has chosen this year, 2024, to promote the Opera Festiva
... [ continuation ]
[ Author Michael Daniel Watson ]
From category THE Articles

21-09-2024: Aida shines brightly at the Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is also presenting a modern version of Aida, in addition to the old but wonderful version from 1913. And it looks something like this!

The stage is tilted, and the floor is made of glass. In the center, a giant hand
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[ Author Michael Daniel Watson ]
From category THE Articles

11-09-2024: Tosca a Verona 2024
Mario`s painting is huge, but... it`s on the floor, lying on its side. Mario doesn`t actually paint it, but "works" on some sketches. In the center of the stage you can see some huge shapes/objects, covered with black cloths. There are also two canno
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[ Author Michael Daniel Watson ]
From category THE Articles

01-09-2024: “La boheme” at Arena di Verona
Arena di Verona. We arrive. We park. We get off. We take a few pictures with the Arena in the background, then ... a heavy rain starts! We take shelter under a tree. :-) I don`t think the show is happening anymore, but we can`t leave either, so we ju
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[ Author Michael Daniel Watson ]
From category THE Articles

20-12-2023: Spoletta, symbol of Hungarian anti-communist resistance
Budapest Opera House was inaugurated in 1884 to be a competition for Vienna StaatsOper. It is localised in the center of the hungarian capital, just a few minutes behind St. Stefan cathedral, the bigest church of the city. In 2022 is was open again a
... [ continuation ]
[ Author Michael Daniel Watson ]
From category THE Articles

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