Aida, the Undisputed Star of the Arena Returns in the 'Crystal' Attire designed by Stefano Poda
Premiere on Friday, 14 June, with a large international cast directed by Marco Armiliato
The staging, designed for the 100th Festival, is back for 10 performances, with lights, transparencies, symbols of ancient Egypt and references to haute couture fashion and contemporary art
Verdi's masterpiece reaches its 750th evening in the Arena
The replica on 20 June inaugurates the “Arena for All” 2024 accessibility project organised in partnership with Müller
Aida returns to the Arena for the 750th time. After a sold-out weekend, with the grand opening on 7 June and the premiere of Turandot, the Arena is ready to raise the curtain on a new premiere. On Friday, 14 June, at 9.30 pm, 'crystal' Aida promises a new sell-out. And it confirms Verdi's opera as the undisputed queen of the Arena scene since 1913.
The 2024 programme includes no less than two different productions for Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece. The first, staged for 10 performances until 1 August, is the original one designed for the 100th Festival by visionary director Stefano Poda, who is also set and costume designer, choreographer and lighting designer, as well as this year's recipient of the prestigious Abbiati Prize.
The production has been defined 'crystal' for its impressive visual impact on the two-thousand-year-old Arena. It enhances the venue’s original lines with unprecedented light effects, laser beams, a large transparent stage animated at different heights, and a rich symbology that, for both costumes and props, originally combines elements of Ancient Egypt, contemporary art and high fashion, with references to the creations of Capucci, Hirst and Rabanne. Hundreds of mimes, figurants and dancers join the performers on stage to bring to life the conflicting humanity of the Egyptians and Ethiopians in a war that forever marks the thwarted love between Aida and Radames, amid prayers, rituals, triumphs and moments of intense emotion.
On 14 June, Marco Armiliato, an experienced maestro much applauded in recent editions at the Arena, will make his seasonal debut on the podium, conducting the Orchestra and Chorus of Fondazione Arena and a prestigious international cast. The protagonist, in his Arena debut, will be Marta Torbidoni alongside Gregory Kunde as Radames. Standing in the way of their love will be the impassioned princess Amneris, played by Clémentine Margaine, and the reasons of both family and state, represented by Amonasro, the embattled Ethiopian king and father of Aida, a role in which Igor Golovatenko makes his Verona debut, as well as by the high priest Ramfis, and the king of the Egyptians, played by the basses Alexander Vinogradov and Riccardo Fassi, respectively. Riccardo Rados and Francesca Maionchi, as messenger and priestess, complete the cast.
In this capacity, Aida will also be repeated on 20, 23 and 28 June (also at 9.30 pm), 7, 11, 21, 26 July (at 9.15 pm) and 1 August (at 9.00 pm).
Many famous performers from the international opera scene will take turns in the subsequent performances, including welcome returns and eagerly awaited debuts: Maria Josè Siri and Elena Stikhina as Aida; tenors Yusif Eyvazov, Martin Muehle, Carlo Ventre, Ivan Magrì; Ekaterina Semenchuk and Agnieszka Rehlis as Amneris; basses Giorgi Manoshvili, Marko Mimica, Simon Lim, Rafał Siwek, and baritones Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Youngjun Park and Ludovic Tézier. The figure on the podium will also exchange places with colleagues. Indeed, on 7 and 11 July the conductor will be Alvise Casellati, while on 26 July and 1 August it will be Daniel Oren.
‘Crystal’ Aida, a 2023 production conceived for the opening of the 100th Opera Festival, achieved extraordinary results at its debut,recording sold-out for the more than 20,000 seats available for the two performances on 16 and 17 June. Records in the Arena but also on the Web. According to Google Trend, the word “Aida” was searched 430% more times in the first week of the 2023 Festival, in Italy, than the average number of searches for the same term in the previous five years.
The 101st Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2024, which opens with “La Grande Opera Italiana Patrimonio dell'Umanità”, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and organised in partnership with Fondazione Arena, offers 50 unrepeatable evenings of opera, concerts and ballets on stage until 7 September.
The Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2024 is supported by numerous sponsors, headed by UniCredit, which boasts a longevity of more than 25 years of collaboration, followed by Calzedonia, Pastificio Rana, Volkswagen Group Italia, DB Bahn, Forno Bonomi, RTL 102.5, Genny, which once again this year signs the uniforms of audience reception staff, and Müller which, this year too, supports the accessibility projects dedicated to people with disabilities. Official partners include historic brands such as Veronafiere, Air Dolomiti, A4 Holding, Metinvest, SABA Italia, SDG Group, Sartori di Verona, Palazzo Maffei and Mantova Village. New supporters include Poste Italiane, ManPower Group and Consorzio di Tutela dell'Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP. In addition to companies, private individuals, and professional associations that make up the ranks of the Membership 67 Columns for the Arena di Verona, founded by Gianluca Rana from the namesake pasta factory, and Sandro Veronesi, patron of the Oniverse Group, with Gruppo Editoriale Athesis as media partner.
