Aida preview from San Francisco Opera

The grandest of grand operas, a brilliant balance of spectacular pageantry and emotional intimacy, returns to San Francisco Opera for the first time in nearly a decade. A bitter love triangle plays itself out against a backdrop of war and cultural oppression in this compelling tale of conflicting loyalties and forbidden passion.

Music Director Nicola Luisotti, the Company's "ideal new maestro" (The New York Times), leads the first of two extraordinary casts in an "eye-popping production" (Houston Chronicle) created by legendary British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

The September cast features soprano Micaela Carosi, "a noble, full-hearted diva of considerable power" (The Times of London) in the title role, along with Marcello Giordani, "arguably the greatest leading tenor of his generation" (Opera News) and mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick, who is "unequaled in major Verdi roles" (Washington Post). Baritone Marco Vratogna, whose "striking infusion of vocal power and theatrical electricity" as Iago (San Francisco Chronicle) thrilled San Francisco audiences in 2009's Otello, sings Amonasro. Bass Hao Jiang Tian sings Ramfis, returning to San Francisco Opera after his triumphant debut as Chang the Coffin Maker in The Bonesetter's Daughter (2008).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Aida
• Giuseppe Verdi
• San Francisco Opera
• Opera
• Grand Opera
• Micaela Carosi
• Marcello Giordani
• Dolora Zajick
• Marco Vratogna
• Hao Jiang Tian

[MrSkylark1]

This is no longer what the Metropolitan was during the great Caruso's period. They sang back then.Note MARJORIE LAWRENCE, ANITA CERQUETTI, ELIZABETH RETHBERG who sang an outstanding AIDA without yelling. Sad to say, that type of singing has been missed on the stage of the opera. It was an art form that is lost.

[kgarmaker123]

@Bigman240 Zajick is a MAJOR MAJOR historical voice!!!!! She is the mezzo of the past fifty years.. Sheis fabulous vocally.

[llxllmayalenllxll]

thank u for ur hard work i'm thankful for who upload & post this

[wotancat1]

creía que a 1080, la calidad de imagen de los blu-rays era la misma, pero estaba equivocado, si esta Aida sale en blu-ray, la recomiendo ( yo la compraré ), tiene una calidad de imagen espeluznante

[gbohol]

@danielmhd i love that hairdo too! I want to see this opera because of the costumes.

[BytomGirl]

Just went yesterday to see this production at Memorial Opera House. I was in the first row and had a hard time reading the translation so high up. I thought that it was a bit strange that Amnesis' father looked younger than his daughter :-) And Aida's father reminded me of Atila the Hun...I don'lt know why...... otherwise it was fine...

[Bigman240]

Can Marcello Giordani keep on singing this repertoire? Micaela Carosi has never turned me on...With all her "passion" and vocal prowess, I find her inexpressive and vocally unattractive. Zajick is always vocally proficient in this role even if she does it exactly the same every time, and her vocal style is anything but interesting. Vratogna has NO LEGATO and basically barks his part.

[danielmhd]

If you look up the designer, Zandra Rhodes, the awkwardness totally makes sense. Although, I *am* quite jealous of Amneris' bad-ass hairdoo (1:16). Enjoy the opera... I think I'll wait for Butterfly.

[sricruz]

@danielmhd ...your not off base.... i agree with you 100%....I mean whats up with Giordani's make up, i mean wtf is up with the blue eye shadow? I'm going Sunday and I'm looking forward to everything but the production design....

[danielmhd]

I just can't get over the horrendousness of this production design. I want to like it... and thus justify flying up to SF for a weekend... but the whole thing just seems claustrophobic and misguided. Am I totally off base?