Aida
In the second of our three nights of culture this week, Aude and I went to see Aida at the local theatre last night, performed by the same company that performed Tosca. But what a difference!
The orchestra were still as poor as ever, with their deaf conductor and their tone-deaf woodwinds and brass. Judging from their timing, everyone was playing to their own rhythm. I’m all for a sense of individuality, but it doesn’t really work in the orchestra.
But that aside, the performance was stunning – much, much more accomplished than the performance of Tosca the other night. The sets were beautiful and elaborate, clearly designed by the same designer who had put together the set of Tosca. The company was 200+ strong, with a huge chorus and a dozen ballet dancers. There were pyrotechnics. It was opera on a grand scale.
The singing was fantastic, on par with anything I’ve seen at Glyndebourne or the Royal Opera House.
Whether Aida was the right choice for Valentine’s Day is another matter. While the story of everlasting love is romantic, the fact that everyone dies kind of takes the magic out of the moment. (Hope I haven’t spoiled the opera for anyone – but everyone always dies at the end of a dramatic opera, don’t they?)
- Tags:
- opera
