Yesterday was the 148th anniversary of the first presentation of Aida Opera in Cairo, as it was shown at the Khedive Opera House in Cairo on December 24, 1871.
The story goes back to November 17, 1869, which is the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal. One of the manifestations of preparing for the huge opening ceremony of the channel was paving the pyramid route and building the Khedive Opera House.
On November 29, 1869 AD, the opera building opened, at a cost of 160,000 pounds, after what was designed by engineers from Italy "Pietro Avuscany" and "Rutisi", and it had a capacity of 850 spectators, and its location is Ataba Square.
One day, the student of Khedio Ismail from Auguste Marietta, then director of the Egyptian Antiquities, chose a story suitable for an Egyptian opera narration that would be displayed at the time of the opening of the Suez Canal. Indeed, he wrote the story of Aida's opera, Verdi put music for her in exchange for 150,000 francs of gold. Decor and work clothes were designed in Paris and cost 250 thousand francs.
The ads were designed and written on the cover of the opera. "It is a musical drama with a lyric dialogue, and it is a volatile piece that includes scenes and dancers interspersed with music songs divided into 4 chapters that embody the struggle between duty and passion. It tells the story of love that arose between the Ethiopian captive Aida and the army commander Radamis The Egyptian. "
Although the reason for the opera was its performance at the opening of the Suez Canal, it was not yet exhibited, due to Verdi's delay in composing it on the required date, and was chosen instead of the "Regelito" opera, which is also his composition, on December 24, 1871AD.
Aida performed for the first time in 1871 at the old stage of the Khedive Opera House and Verdi was unable to attend, and was shown in Europe for the first time at the La Scala theater in Italy in February 1872.
Wed, Dec. 25, 2019
