NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET-OPERA
51 MAY OPERA EVENINGS

“Aida”
Giuseppe Verdi
An opera in four acts
31.05.2023

Conductor: Roberto Gianolla (Italy)
Adapted for the stage og National Opera and Ballet by: Dejan Proshev
Choreographer: Luisa Baldinetti (Italy)
Assistant choreographer: Sasha Evtimova
Assistant director: Ljupka Jakimovska
Concertmaster: Verica Lambevska
Choir–master: Gjurgjica Dasikj
Light design: Vasil Lisichov
Accompanists: Elena Siljanoska, Janinka Nevcheva,
Andreja Naunov, Jordan Petrushevski
Stage managers: Ljupco Polizov, Dragan Kostadinović, Marko Pavlevski
Prompter: Nevena Georgieva

CAST:
Aida: Marija Jelikj (Serbia)
Radames: Walter Fraccaro (Italy)
Amneris: Sanya Anastasia (Serbia)
Ramfis: Igor Durlovski
Pharaoh: Aleksandar Stefanoski
Amonasro: Niko Isakov (Bulgaria)
High priestess: Katerina Stojanovska
A messenger: Marjan Nikolovski

Ballet soloist: Ivana Kocevska
The choir, the orchestra and the male ballet ensemble of the National Opera and Ballet

SYNOPSIS

“Aida” was a commission of the Cairo Theater for the inauguration of the Suez Canal. The opera turned to be one of the greatest creations of Verdi`s great mind. Having this “exotic” libretto in his hands Verdi, finally, discovers “his own” themes, feelings and passions: premeditated tragism, terms, situations that have no way out, the love that beats the death. . . The music richness of Aida results from the correlation between several different musical standpoints as well the perfect ratio between them: the expressive psychological line of the main heroes, the obscure and steady world of the clergymen, the luxurious triumphal marching mass scenes, the exotic world of the Orient with its colors that are naturally blended into the opera dramaturgy and language of music. P. I. Tchaikovsky had written once: “The genius of the old man Verdi in Aida and Othello had opened new frontiers for the Italian musicians…”

Memphis and Thebes, Egypt in ancient times. Aida, Ethiopian slave of the Egyptian princess Amneris, loves Radames – chosen to be the commanding officer in the battle against Ethiopia. Amneris, also in love with Radames, pretending good feelings toward her slave discovers the secret of Aida`s love. Radames has defeated the Ethiopians and triumphantly comes back home. He is rewarded the hand of the princes Amneris. Amonasro, Aida`s father and Ethiopian king, is among the prisoners. Amonasro, having discovered the love between his daughter and Radames, orders her to ask Radames which route the army will take so the Ethiopians can ambush them. Amneris reveals Radames’s unintended betrayal. Ramfis sentences him to be buried alive in a tomb. Aida manages to sneak inside the tomb in order to be with him in love and in death.

I ACT

Radames, the captain of the guard, has been selected to lead the Egyptian army in its war against Ethiopia. He is pleased, but dreams of conquering the slave Aida, who is the captured daughter of the Ethiopian King Amonasro and is also secretly in love with Radames. The Egyptian people wish Radames and his army victory. Aida, on the other hand, is torn between her love for Radames and the love for her country.

II ACT

Princess Amneris fears the worst: is Radames in love with the slave Aida? Amneris questions the young woman, tricking her into admitting her love. Aida loves Radames and dares to confess her feelings to her rival! The two women engage in a powerful duet. Not far away, at the gates of Thebes, the Egyptians return victorious from war. The court and the people celebrate the return of their hero, Radames. And his reward: the hand of Amneris.

III ACT

In fact, Aida is the daughter of the King of Ethiopia, Amonasro. When she comes to greet Radames on the banks of the Nile, her father appears. He has managed to remain anonymous among the prisoners. Amonasro begs his daughter to consider the terrible situation facing her people, who are defeated and exhausted. She must put her country first, above her love for Radames! In a duet filled with tenderness and resignation, Aida accepts to question her lover, in hopes of gleaning some information that could help the Ethiopians rise up and attack Egypt.

IV ACT

By speaking to Aida, Radames has betrayed his country. Amneris will do anything to save him, if only he will defend himself. But Radames refuses to save himself and is sentenced to be buried alive, which he heroically accepts. In the darkness of the vault, while he is waiting to die, Radames discovers Aida, who has hidden there to die alongside him. They bid farewell to life, in a sombre duet where their voices seem to rise to the heavens.