Aida, without a doubt one of the most
famous operas of history. And, shame on me, I'm not well acquainted with it. I think I have been to the opera a few times when I was a teeny-weeny little girl. I
would recognize some arias or choirs, and I've heard of Aida, but that's
it.
Time to discover it! While writing this
article, on my phone, in bed, with closed curtains to prevent the cold from
coming in my bedroom, I'm listening to the beautiful opera performed by Katia
Ricciarelli, Placido Domingo, Elena Obratsova, Leo Nucci, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Ruggero
Raimondi and the 'Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala', conducted by Claudio
Abbado. (Deutsche Grammophon, highlights)
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Opera_Garnier_Grand_Escalier.jpg
Photographer: Benh LIEU SONG
Long
To be honest, I wasn't that into opera at
all until recently when I got more serious about singing and acting. I did
however, always respect opera singers. I honestly think, and you may agree with
me, that they are one of the best artists out there. An opera is a musical,
concert and dramatic theater piece at the same time. And operas are long. Have you seen the Charles Heston movie 'Ben Hur' or 'the Ten Commandments'? That's the feeling you get. An opera is long, takes at least a
couple of hours. You get to know the characters really well, and well, it's
quite long. Did I mention an opera is long? But what a piece of art it is! And so
emotional. How skilled the actors are. To memorize the words, the acts, the
melodies in such a piece of substantial duration... It's emotionally exhausting. Not everyone is able to do that, only the best artists can be opera stars. I'm listening to Domingo's soothing voice (I have a weak spot for beautiful male voices) and Verdi's imagination.
What I like very much about Verdi is the
atmosphere he creates. The ambience of grandeur, majesty and confidence. The
epitome of Italian opera. I must confess something else... My mother told me
the story of Aida when I was little but I forgot it. Yes, someone dies in the
end. But I don't know if remembering that particular detail is a sign of my good memory or a sign of good judgement I
occasionnally have. Since I don't know the story very well and I only
understand Italian when spoken slowly, I'm just going to guess where the story
is about and after posting this article I'll read the actual story.
Romanza
HA. Something I recognize. The first song sung by Radamès. I know it because this romanza is on a Benjamino Gigli CD I've listened like a thousand times as background music while painting. I never knew it was from Aida.
Romanza
HA. Something I recognize. The first song sung by Radamès. I know it because this romanza is on a Benjamino Gigli CD I've listened like a thousand times as background music while painting. I never knew it was from Aida.
Se quel guerrier io fossi!
Se il mio sogno si avverasse!
Un esercito di prodi da me guidato
E la vittoria e il plauso di Menfi tutta!
E a te, mia dolce Aïda,
Tornar di lauri cinto
Dirti: per te ho pugnato,
Per te ho vinto!
Se il mio sogno si avverasse!
Un esercito di prodi da me guidato
E la vittoria e il plauso di Menfi tutta!
E a te, mia dolce Aïda,
Tornar di lauri cinto
Dirti: per te ho pugnato,
Per te ho vinto!
Celeste Aïda, forma divina,
Mistico serto di luce e fior,
Del mio pensiero tu sei regina,
Tu di mia vita sei lo splendor.
Il tuo bel cielo vorrei ridarti,
Le dolci brezze del patrio suol
Un regal serto sul crin posarti,
Mistico serto di luce e fior,
Del mio pensiero tu sei regina,
Tu di mia vita sei lo splendor.
Il tuo bel cielo vorrei ridarti,
Le dolci brezze del patrio suol
Un regal serto sul crin posarti,
Ergerti un trono vicino al sol,
You don't need to have a lot of knowledge of the Italian language to know that it is a love song. Your ears will tell you. I find it so beautiful. Only music can touch your soul this way.
Let's start with my version based on what I'm hearing... I could be completely wrong. This is just one big guess. You are allowed to laugh at my ignorance.
Amonasro is the bad guy
Radamès and Aida are in love. It's a secret relationship. But they can never love each other because Aida is only a poor girl and Radamès a strong warrior. Amonasro should be the bad guy, his name sounds criminal. And the King of Egypt should be evil aswell. Aida sings: "Ritorna vincitor!". Perhaps because her Radamès has gone to war and she is very concerned about his wellbeing. He kills Amonasro, returns and finds Aida ill. They are happy to be together and he holds her in his arms.
You don't need to have a lot of knowledge of the Italian language to know that it is a love song. Your ears will tell you. I find it so beautiful. Only music can touch your soul this way.
Let's start with my version based on what I'm hearing... I could be completely wrong. This is just one big guess. You are allowed to laugh at my ignorance.
Amonasro is the bad guy
Radamès and Aida are in love. It's a secret relationship. But they can never love each other because Aida is only a poor girl and Radamès a strong warrior. Amonasro should be the bad guy, his name sounds criminal. And the King of Egypt should be evil aswell. Aida sings: "Ritorna vincitor!". Perhaps because her Radamès has gone to war and she is very concerned about his wellbeing. He kills Amonasro, returns and finds Aida ill. They are happy to be together and he holds her in his arms.
In the end, the King of Egypt condems her to death because he is jalous.
I cannot wait to post this so I can finally read where Aida is about...
... to be followed...
