AURORA STREAMS: Aida 2009
As part of the global World Opera Day celebrations celebrated on 25th October around the world, the Aurora Opera House is pleased to stream the 2009 production of Giuseppe Verdi’s all-time favourite, Aida, this Thursday 29th October 2020 at 2030hrs (Central European Time). The 2 hours 45 minute long production will be streamed on facebook.com/TeatruAurora or www.teatruaurora.com and will be available for re-viewing for 24 hours.
It’s not only nostalgia, but a display of how much we’ve strode forward in twenty years
25th October is World Opera Day. It is the day when all the opera houses around the world come together to show how important opera is for the lives of so many people, for the soul of so many cities, for the economies of so many countries.
But 2020 happened to be the year when most opera houses, Aurora included, have gone silent. Some managed to make a sound or two and forced back into retreat. COVID-19 disrupted a Gaulitana production of Verdi’s Otello, which was supposed to run last April, and our very own production of Verdi’s Aida, initially scheduled for 10th October 2020.
…how important opera is for the lives of so many people, for the soul of so many cities, for the economies of so many countries.
As we miss what was meant to be Aida 2020, and transpose our plans to Aida 2021, we feel it is time to re-live our last attempt on this everlasting masterpiece, which was in 2009. Back then it was still Colin Attard at the helm of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, international cast and Aurora Opera Chorus. Novella Tabili was stage director and set designer. Costumes were hired from Sartoria Pipi of Palermo while sets were constructed in house by Teddy Mizzi and his crew and painted by Gozitan artist Paul Falzon.
The cast was headed by Elena Zelenskaya in the title role, Franco Farina as Radames, Tea Demurishvili as princess Amneris and Yasuo Horiuchi as Amonasro.
We hope this production lifts up the spirits not only of those who participated or had the good fortune to witness it live, but of all those who have opera and culture at heart; all those who long for a breathing space when we may be able to safely enjoy some live art on stage. Until then, we borrow some lyrics from Verdi’s famous chorus at the end of Act 2:
“preghiam che i fati arridano fausti alla patria ognor”
“let us pray that the fates always smile upon our homeland”
Aida, performed on 10th October 2009 under the distinguished patronage of H.E. George Abela, President of Malta, was filmed by CVC Media (Gozo). It will be streamed on be streamed on facebook.com/TeatruAurora or www.teatruaurora.com, on Thursday 29th October 2020 starting at 2030hrs (Central European Time) and will be available for re-viewing for 24 hours. It lasts 2hours and 40 minutes.
This stream is being supported and made possible by: CVC Media, Mayjo Car Rentals, Mr Clean, Playpen Stationery, Bargate Bookshop, Granola Ice-Creams and Eradic8 Pest Control.
