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| Anna Netrebko in "Aida" (photo: Met Opera) |
As
its first HD Broadcast of the current season, the Metropolitan Opera
chose a decidedly beloved war horse and not one but two divas in
demand. The opera was Giuseppi Verdi's Aida with
soprano Anna Netrebko in the title role and Anita Rachvelishvili as
her nemesis. The production, equally popular, is a familiar one, as
is the Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, a simple and, to most
operagoers, also a well-known one.
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| The Cast of "Aida" (photo: Met Opera) |
The opera takes place in Egypt in the reign of the pharaohs. In Memphis, High Priest Ramfis (bass Dimitry Belosselskiy) tells the warrior Radamès (Latvian tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko) that Ethiopia will attack Egypt. Radamès, in love with Aida, the Ethiopian slave of Princess Amneris (mezzo Rachvelishvili), the daughter of the Egyptian King (bass Ryan Speedo Green), dreams of freeing her (“Celeste Aida”), though the jealous Amneris also loves Radamès; he is to lead the army against the Ethiopians. Aida is torn between her love for Radamès and loyalty to her country, where her father, Amonasro (baritone Quinn Kelsey) is King. Ethiopia is defeated, and Amneris waits for the return of Radamès leading a triumphal procession with the captured Ethiopians (including Amonasro). The king declares that Radamès will have Amneris’s hand in marriage. Aida agrees to find out from Radamès which route the Egyptian army will take to invade Ethiopia and to tell Amonasro. Aida asks Radamès and Amonasro, overhearing, emerges from his hiding place. Realizing that Amonasro is his enemy, Radamès is horrified. Aida and her father escape. Radamès, first believing Aida to be dead, learns that she has survived, and rejects an offer by Amneris to save him if he renounces Aida. Denying the high priests' accusations of treason, he is condemned to be buried alive in a stone vault. Amneris begs in vain for mercy for him. Aida, emerges from hiding in the same vault, and they express their mutual love for the last time while Amneris, in the temple above, prays for Radamès.
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| The Cast of "Aida" (photo: Met Opera) |
In this performance, Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, the two principal female singers were outstanding, each worthy of the accolades they received, but the lead tenor was not up to the challenges of his role. But Netrebko and Rachvelishvili saved the day. Also prominently featured were the Metropolitan Opera Chorus (under Chorus Master Donald Palumbo), the Met Orchestra itself, and the company's Ballet, with Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky.. The thirty-year-old Production was by Sonja Frisell, with its awe-inspiring Set Design by Gianni Quaranta, Costume Design by Dada Saligeri, and Lighting Design by Gil Wechsler. The Live in HD Director was Gary Halvorson and the Live in HD Host was charming Isabel Leonard.
Overall, it was a wondrous
beginning for the 2018-2019 season of Metropolitan Opera HD
broadcasts.
An encore presentation
will be broadcast on Wednesday October 10th at a theater
near you.
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