Who's who?
AIDA - 15 OCTOBER 2022
The Top Three
Italian soprano Serena Farnocchia, in the title role, is one of today’s leading Verdi and Puccini sopranos having performed most of the greatest works. However, she is also an acclaimed bel canto singer who has delved into Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini’s music to great critical acclaim. Her performances have been described as filled with “fire” and intense that make “the house shudder.” Little may one wonder why she carries the names of the biggest opera houses on her CV, including the major Italian ones like Rome, Venice and La Scala.
Aida’s heart-throb, Radames, will be played by none lesser than Antonello Palombi who debuted as Pinkerton in Germany in 1990 and went to forge a career in the US. In 2006 he took the La Scala stage with aplomb when he covered Roberto Alagna, (in jeans and black shirt), who walked off mid-act and put on a costume to continue the remainder of the opera. His repertoire includes the major opera titles which he performed in major houses all over the globe with notable conductors. In fact, he was also remarkably successful with his Aida at the MET Opera in New York and New Zealand.
The love-triangle in the Aida plot rounds up with Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian King; a role which will see the return of Belarusian mezzo-soprano Oksana Volkova to the Aurora where she is best remembered for her fiery Carmen in 2016 which she performed to wide acclaim. No wonder that since then, she went to debut at the MET Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden amongst others.
The Fathers, the Priest
The complete cast list includes another recurring name on La Scala opera boards, Piero Terranova as Amonasro. He began to study singing at the Conservatoire of Cosenza under the guidance of A. Savastano. Afterwards, he attended masterclasses with R. Scotto, L. Gencer, L. Nucci, L. Serra, S. Verrèt, B. Giaiotti, E. Muller and R. Kettelson, and specialization courses at Accademia Verdiana C.Bergonzi in Busseto and at Accademia Chigiana in Siena.
He was member of the Singing Academy of Teatro alla Scala during the opera seasons in the years 1999 – 2001. During this period he made his debut in L’amico Fritz in Reggio Emilia, then the main roles in Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, L’isola di Merlino, Falstaff and Le Nozze di Figaro – Teatri del Circuito Regionale Lombardo; La Traviata (Giorgio Germont), Hansel und Gretel – Teatro Regio in Parma, Gianni Schicchi for the opening of Sociale in Como and Tre Commedie Goldoniane by Malipiero. He performed Falstaff at Sferisterio in Macerata also, taking Renato Bruson’s place.
In 2000/2001 he sang L’elisir d’amore (Belcore) at La Scala, Brignoli, and he made his debut as Marcello and Shaunard in La bohème at La Scala and Ariadne auf Naxos, Sinopoli, Silvano in Un ballo in Maschera, Muti, Tagliaferro in La Cecchina by N. Piccinni.
The other father in the plot, i.e. the Egyptian King, father of Amneris will be played by Italian young tenor Francesco Leone who is forging a career and moulding a successful name for himself in the major Italian theatres, not least the Arena of Verona.
The very important and dominant role of Ramfis, the High Priest will be interpreted by Vladimir Sazdowski.
The High Priestess
The mysterious role of the High-Priestess will be interpreted by Andriana Yordanova, a Bulgarian-born soprano based in Malta. She started her career as a soloist in the school choir and the Children’s opera in her home town of Varna. In 1992 she obtained her master’s degree in Russian Language and Literature in the Sofia University and in the same year she continued her music studies in the National Music Academy under the guidance of Professor Ilka Popova. In 1997 she won a scholarship and followed a Tosca course in the European Opera Centre in Manchester under the direction of Kent Nagano, Professor Marta Lantieri, Kostas Paskalis, and Renata Scotto. The same year she won a scholarship at ‘Academia d’Arte e Cultura Boris Christoff’ in Rome and studied under the Italian mezzo-soprano Gianella Borelli.
After the third year at the Sofia Music Academy she was given the opportunity to make her debut with the role of Musetta in ‘La Bohème’ of Puccini at the State Opera House in Bourgas under the baton of the great Bulgarian conductor Professor Ivan Vulpe. At the State Opera House in Varna she performed the roles of Sylva Varescu in the classical Viennese operetta ‘The Princess of Czardas’ of Imre Kálmán and of Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte. She also performed the role of Anna in ‘Nabucco’, Tebaldo and Voce del Cielo in ‘Don Carlo’ in the productions of the State Opera House Varna for the International Varna Summer Music Festival.
In 2002 she made her debut as another Puccinian heroine – Mimi from ‘La Bohème’ under the baton of the Italian conductor Luciano Di Martino at State Opera House Stara Zagora. She performed extensively in her home country. Her overseas performances include tours in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Egypt and Turkey. In 2001 she was invited to give recitals in Malta. After transferring to Malta in 2002 she became one of the leading singers on the island. Between 2002 and 2009 she performed on many occasions and also at extensive personal recitals.
Yordanova successfully interpreted Micaela in the 2010 production of Carmen at the Aurora Opera House.
Aida
Originally, an Ethiopian princess (unbeknown to her Egyptian captors), daughter of Amonasro, the warrior-king. In the plot, we meet Aida as a servant of Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king. She is secretly in love with Radames.
Amneris
Daughter of the Egyptian king. Openly in love with Radames, she is suspicious of her rival-in-love, and drives her slave to an open confession. She condemns Radames to death for not returning his love, but curses the priests who do not show mercy on him.
Radames
Captain of the Egyptian Guard. He conquers the Ethiopians and returns triumphantly to his homeland. He is in love with Aida, even though he is given Amneris’ hand in marriage. He is accused of treason as he discloses the military secret to this enemy and chooses death over a forced betrayal of love to Aida.
The King of Egypt
Amneris’ father. He selects Radames to lead the battle agains the Ethiopians.
Amonasro
King of Ethiopia. He is captured in battle as a slave, although he initially only reveals his true identity to his daughter Aida who is serving in the Egyptian palace.
Ramfis
The Egyptian High Priest. He is the first to instil the warring lust in Radames. He advises against the full release of the Ethiopian slaves as per Radames’ request. Hence Amonasro and Aida are retained. He also recites the charges against Radames at the end.
