Caracalla 2019: Aida
About the Event
Experience opera like never before in this astonishing performance of masterworks by Verdi at Rome's remarkable Baths of Caracalla.
The Nubian Princess Aida was taken hostage to Egypt. The Egyptian commander Radames is in love with Aida and has to decide between his love for Aida and his loyalty to the Pharaoh.
Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king, also cast an eye on Radames and makes Aida confess her secret love with a trick. After Radames was victorious in battle and brings Aida's father to Egypt as a prisoner, he is torn between duty and love. He decides on his love for Aida and plans to escape with her — but the jealous Amneris disturbs the plan and the lovers meet a tragic end.
Verdi's masterpiece Aida was premiered in 1871 in Cairo and is one of the composer's most successful operas. The monumental work, with its larger‐than‐life history and inimitable musical moments, has inspired the greatest singers, conductors and directors in the past centuries and has created performances that have burned themselves into cultural memory forever.
Practical Information
The Baths of Caracalla are ancient baths in Rome and among the largest thermal baths in the Eternal City.
The construction of the Caracalla baths probably started in 206 under Septimius Severus and was completed in 216 under Emperor Caracalla. Further extensions, such as arcades and decorations, were carried out under the emperors Elagabal and Severus Alexander, so that the complex was not really completed until 235 AD. Together with the Diocletian Baths it belonged to the public and free bathing palaces.
In 537 the Ostrogoths destroyed the water pipe during the siege of Rome, which stopped the bathing activities. Nevertheless, they were regarded as the best preserved thermal baths until the Renaissance.
In 1824 systematic excavations began under Count Girolamo Egidio di Velo, who found the mosaic with the athletes. Nowadays the Rome Opera hosts open‐air opera performances here.
Cast / Production
Conductor Jordi Bernàcer
Director, set, costume and lighting designer Denis Krief
Chorus Master Roberto Gabbiani
The King Gabriele Sagona
Amneris Judit Kutasi / Silvia Beltrami
Aida Vittoria Yeo / Serena Farnocchia
Radamès Alfred Kim / Diego Cavazzin
Amonasro Marco Caria
Ramfis Adrian Sâmpetrean / Alessio Cacciamani
Customer Reviews
4.0 of 5
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Jonathan B, United Kingdom
Aug 2019
Chorus didn’t look engaged but they sang well.
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David M, España
Jul 2019
Inmejorable, grandiosa y en un lugar privilegiado