When Giuseppe Verdi wrote his opera Aida in 1870 he must have been looking for an opera company with the enthusiasm and singers to bring it to life. One of those companies is the Chisinau National Opera brought to this country by Ellen Kent and Opera International and playing an extensive tour which has reached York amongst its venues. The singing could not have been bettered and deserved the full house at the Grand Theatre where it was enthusiastically received.

Verdi wrote the music and Antonio Ghislanzoni the libretto from texts by Auguste Mariette and Camille Du Locle and it was first performed at the opera house, Cairo on the 24th of December, 1871. The story takes place in Egypt during the reign of the Pharaohs who were at war with their neighbour Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Princess Aida had been taken prisoner and had been taken to Memphis to act as a slave to Amneris, daughter of the Pharaoh, whilst her father Amonasro mounted a counter-invasion to rescue her. The opera is what is thought to have happened in the attempt to bring about the rescue. To tell the story from here on would spoil it for all those of you who should make every effort to go and see it.

Aida was sung beautifully by soprano Mariana Coppos, admirably supported by tenor Nicolae Busuioc as Ramades her Egyptian lover and the more than able baritone Boris Materinco as her father Amonasro. The rest of the cast gave outstanding performances, as did the superb chorus, with the sombre male chorus showing what disciplined singing is all about. All this with the help of the conductor Nicolae Dohotaru and his hard working orchestra. The sets were more than up to what was expected of them and showed how the whole presentation looked on the larger stages in their native country of Moldova. The costumes complimented the quality of the scenery, and as usual the surtitles were just what was wanted to keep the audience up to date with what was going on on stage.

The audience more than appreciated what they had seen and experienced, and showed it with their sustained applause when the final curtain fell. The talk as they left the theatre was of an enjoyable evening at the opera. © BA

“Aida” is in York on the 1st December, 2002 and then continues an extensive tour of Britain.