Aida from the Royal Opera House 1994
Distributed by Films Media Group, 132 West 31st St., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001; 800-257-5126
Produced by Stephany Marks, Jane Pleydell-Bouverie; a BBC Covent Garden Pioneer FSP NHK Royal Opera House co-production
Directed by Elijah Moshinsky
DVD, color, 2 hrs 31 min.
Sr. High - General Adult
Opera
Date Entered: 09/23/2011
Reviewed by Carolyn Walden, Mervyn H. Sterne Library, University of Alabama at BirminghamThis video presentation of the opera Aida is a film version of the live performance by the Royal Opera House in 1994. From a historical perspective, viewers should know that Aida was first performed over 140 years ago in 1871 and “has grown in stature ever since to become one of the best-loved and most performed grand operas of all time.” The Royal Opera House production by Elijah Moshinsky continues the tradition. There are 4 acts and except for Act 3, each has 2 scenes. The opera, often viewed as both “extravagant and magnificent” is set in Egypt and Ethiopia and shows the developing conflict for both the invasion of Egypt by Ethiopia and the love story of Princess Amneris and Captain Radames who secretly loves Aida, a slave who is an attendant to the princess.
The Royal Opera production portrays the dramatic story as grand drama with contrasting scenes of active battle for the invasion and the ensuing conflict that occurs as the drama unfolds to reveal the true love of the Captain for Aida. The music by Giuseppe Verdi captures the majesty and splendor of the court with energetic dancing as entertainment, dramatizes the battle scenes, and weaves in the contrasting lyrical sounds with tenderness and compassion for the love scenes. The magnificence of the march music with the chorus, the choreography with ballet dancing and masks, and the drama of battle make the opera both intriguing and delightful. Costumes feature regal colors in blue, turquoise, gold, and red satins. The full view of the orchestra playing the overture and interludes provides a front row seat for the viewer to observe the orchestra and the nuances of the conductor, Edward Downes.
While the diction of the singers is not always as clear and viewers could be helped with program notes or the ability to turn on sub-titles to help clarify the story line, the music, choreography, singing, and acting make for an exciting live performance. Recommended for opera collections in university libraries and large public libraries.