Difference between revisions of "Aida"
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| − | ''[[Aida]]'' is a four | + | ''[[Aida]]'' is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) with an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. |
| + | |||
| + | Known as '''''[[Aïda]]''''' in Italian. | ||
==The original text== | ==The original text== | ||
| − | A political drama centred around power struggles and jealousies; Aida tells the tale of an Ethiopian princess (Aida) who has been kidnapped in Egypt. She falls in love with General Radames who has been chosen to lead a war with Ethiopia, and the opera follows the conflict of Aida’s love for the General and her country. Against the backdrop of war and loyalty, emotions and loyalties are tested – leading to tragic consequences. | + | A political drama centred around power struggles and jealousies; Aida tells the tale of an Ethiopian princess (Aida) who has been kidnapped in Egypt. She falls in love with General Radames who has been chosen to lead a war with Ethiopia, and the opera follows the conflict of Aida’s love for the General and her country. Against the backdrop of war and loyalty, emotions and loyalties are tested – leading to tragic consequences. |
| + | |||
| + | The work was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 December 1871, in a performance conducted by Giovanni Bottesini. It opened at La Scala in Milan on 8 February 1872, conducted by Franco Faccio. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It holds a central place in the operatic canon today, receiving performances every year around the world. | ||
==Translations and adaptations== | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1912: Presented by the [[Quinlan Opera Company]] at the [[Opera House]], Cape Town. | ||
1933: Presented by [[African Consolidated Theatres]] at the [[Alhambra Theatre]], conducted by [[William Pickerill]]. | 1933: Presented by [[African Consolidated Theatres]] at the [[Alhambra Theatre]], conducted by [[William Pickerill]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1942: Presented on tour with the orchestras of Cape Town, Johannesburg and the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation]] ([[SABC]]) together with singers and dancers from all over the country. The production toured from Johannesburg to Pretoria and Cape Town and in each city local choruses and dancers were used. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1965: Presented by [[NAPAC Opera]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1971: Presented by [[CAPAB Opera]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1973: Presented by [[PACT Opera]]; presented by [[CAPAB Opera]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1976: Presented by [[NAPAC Opera]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1982: Presented by [[PACT Opera]]. | ||
1985: Presented by [[CAPAB Opera]] (16 March – 10 April) | 1985: Presented by [[CAPAB Opera]] (16 March – 10 April) | ||
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2002: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (1–17 August) | 2002: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (1–17 August) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2008: Presented by [[Opera Africa]] at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] (Feb - March). Director [[Lawrence Dale]], Conductor [[Vincent de Kort]]. With [[Katarina Jovanovic]], [[Indra Thomas]], [[Kaiser N'Kosi]], [[Violina Anguelov]], [[Stéfan Louw]], [[Ntsikelelo Mali]], [[Otto Maidi]], [[Rheinaldt Moagi]], [[Kelebogile Besong]]. Set designer [[Dipu Gupta]], Costume designer [[Andrew Verster]], Lighting designer [[Declan Randall]]. | ||
2008: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (2–10 October) | 2008: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (2–10 October) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2025: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (23-31 May), directed by [[Magdalene Minnaar]], with choreography by [[Gregory Maqoma]]. [[Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra]] conducted by [[Kamal Khan]]. With [[Nobulumko Mngxekeza]] as Aida, [[Nonhlanhla Yende]] as Amneris, and [[Lukhanyo Moyake]] as Radames, and supporting cast members [[Conroy Scott]] as Amonasro, [[Garth Delport]] as the Egyptian king, [[Lonwabo Mose]] as Ramfis, [[Van Wyk Venter]] as the royal messenger and [[Khayakazi Madlala]] as the high priestess. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aida | ||
'Discover Aida'. ''ENO''. https://www.eno.org/operas/aida/ | 'Discover Aida'. ''ENO''. https://www.eno.org/operas/aida/ | ||
| Line 32: | Line 58: | ||
[[Sjoerd Alkema]]. 2012. "Conductors of the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, 1914-1965: a historical perspective". [[University of Cape Town]]. Unpublished PhD thesis. | [[Sjoerd Alkema]]. 2012. "Conductors of the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, 1914-1965: a historical perspective". [[University of Cape Town]]. Unpublished PhD thesis. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow]]. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. [[University of Stellenbosch]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Hilde Roos]]. 2010. 'Opera Production in the Western Cape: Strategies in Search of Indigenisation'. Unpublished PhD thesis. [[Stellenbosch University]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Hilde Roos]]. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. ''Acta Academica Supplementum''. 2012(1). | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-27-not-your-grandmothers-aida-verdis-great-work-gets-a-science-fiction-spin/ | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
Latest revision as of 19:17, 30 January 2026
Aida is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) with an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni.
Known as Aïda in Italian.
Contents
The original text
A political drama centred around power struggles and jealousies; Aida tells the tale of an Ethiopian princess (Aida) who has been kidnapped in Egypt. She falls in love with General Radames who has been chosen to lead a war with Ethiopia, and the opera follows the conflict of Aida’s love for the General and her country. Against the backdrop of war and loyalty, emotions and loyalties are tested – leading to tragic consequences.
The work was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 December 1871, in a performance conducted by Giovanni Bottesini. It opened at La Scala in Milan on 8 February 1872, conducted by Franco Faccio.
It holds a central place in the operatic canon today, receiving performances every year around the world.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1912: Presented by the Quinlan Opera Company at the Opera House, Cape Town.
1933: Presented by African Consolidated Theatres at the Alhambra Theatre, conducted by William Pickerill.
1942: Presented on tour with the orchestras of Cape Town, Johannesburg and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) together with singers and dancers from all over the country. The production toured from Johannesburg to Pretoria and Cape Town and in each city local choruses and dancers were used.
1965: Presented by NAPAC Opera.
1971: Presented by CAPAB Opera.
1973: Presented by PACT Opera; presented by CAPAB Opera.
1976: Presented by NAPAC Opera.
1982: Presented by PACT Opera.
1985: Presented by CAPAB Opera (16 March – 10 April)
1988: Presented by CAPAB Opera, with soprano Virginia Davids in the title role (13–31 August)
1991: Presented by CAPAB Opera (24 April – 13 May)
1993: Presented by CAPAB Opera (27 September – 17 October)
1999: Presented by Cape Town Opera (2–17 October)
2002: Presented by Cape Town Opera (1–17 August)
2008: Presented by Opera Africa at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre (Feb - March). Director Lawrence Dale, Conductor Vincent de Kort. With Katarina Jovanovic, Indra Thomas, Kaiser N'Kosi, Violina Anguelov, Stéfan Louw, Ntsikelelo Mali, Otto Maidi, Rheinaldt Moagi, Kelebogile Besong. Set designer Dipu Gupta, Costume designer Andrew Verster, Lighting designer Declan Randall.
2008: Presented by Cape Town Opera (2–10 October)
2025: Presented by Cape Town Opera (23-31 May), directed by Magdalene Minnaar, with choreography by Gregory Maqoma. Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kamal Khan. With Nobulumko Mngxekeza as Aida, Nonhlanhla Yende as Amneris, and Lukhanyo Moyake as Radames, and supporting cast members Conroy Scott as Amonasro, Garth Delport as the Egyptian king, Lonwabo Mose as Ramfis, Van Wyk Venter as the royal messenger and Khayakazi Madlala as the high priestess.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aida
'Discover Aida'. ENO. https://www.eno.org/operas/aida/
Wayne Muller. 2018. A reception history of opera in Cape Town: Tracing the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic (1985–2015). Unpublished PhD thesis.
Sjoerd Alkema. 2012. "Conductors of the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, 1914-1965: a historical perspective". University of Cape Town. Unpublished PhD thesis.
Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.
Hilde Roos. 2010. 'Opera Production in the Western Cape: Strategies in Search of Indigenisation'. Unpublished PhD thesis. Stellenbosch University.
Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).
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