The premiere of Aida, one of Giuseppe Verdi's most famous operas, is associated with important events – namely, the opening of the Cairo Opera House, which, in turn, was dedicated to the inauguration of the Suez Canal. Although everything did not go as smoothly as expected (Verdi did not agree to take up the creation of this opera for a long time, and eventually Rigoletto had to be shown for the opening of the theatre), on 24 December 1871 the unveiling of Aida started the triumphant march of this opera through stages of the world, which continues to this day.
The story of the opera takes place in the ancient Egyptian kingdom and tells the love story between the Egyptian army commander Radames and the Ethiopian slave Aida. There is a complication: Radames is also loved by Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh... However, the drama of the plot is not only a love story, but also the conflict between duty, loyalty to one's country, patriotism and personal emotional experiences. The greatness of Egypt and the passions of the heroes are expressively conveyed through the music: it is full of wonderful arias, choruses, and impressive scenes. And the celebratory trumpets in the scene of the triumphant return of Radames probably sound even in the memory of those who have not seen this opera.
Staged several times at the Lithuanian Opera, this time at the LNOBT Aida is produced by director Gediminas Šeduikis. His opera vision speaks of a romantic feel and taste based on events happening in a distant and unknown world.
✓ Surtitles in Lithuanian and English
Premiere: 10 November 2023
