In some sort of bizarre variation of the Stockholm Syndrome, where those who are kidnapped fall for their kidnappers, I found to my horror I wasn't only beginning to like the opera, I was learning to appreciate it. I came to understand how the music and the voices worked together to build an emotional moment. I learned the chorus that at had first sounded like so much discordant noise was in actual fact a key part of the orchestral arrangements; in affect harmonizing with the orchestra and the melody of whatever segment was being performed at the time.
Aida was commissioned by the Khedive of Egypt for the opening of a new opera house in Cairo, which coincided with the opening of the Suez Canal. Due to unforeseen circumstances, like the Franco/Prussian War trapping the sets in Paris, the opening was delayed. So instead of opening in 1869 when originally scheduled its premiere was in December of 1871.
It seems I wasn't the only one impressed by the "Triumphal" and it has since become one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music. Aidia itself is considered one of the big three of Opera along with Bizzet's Carmen and Puccini's La bohème and remains one of the most frequently performed to this day.
As with all the really popular Operas there are also a great number of recordings of Aida on the market, and finding the right one to purchase could be a challenge. In spite of its popularity Aida is still a difficult piece to perform due to the challenges faced by the singers to live up to the history of the piece, and the opulence required to do it justice.
Given the tale is set in the court of the ancient Pharaoh's of Egypt and there are key scenes aside from the "Triumphal," the singers have to be able fill the spaces with presence and sound lending credibility to the environment and their characters. Not just any singer can play the General of the Pharaoh's army and have the charisma to make both the Pharaoh's daughter and the beauteous slave girl, Aida, fall in love with him.
Article comments
1 - Bliffle
When young I thought opera ludicrous. Why would people do all those crazy things for love? But then...
2 - Eileen Pfaff
I am glad you came to appreciate opera. What makes you think that the broadcasts were not in fact live? They were and still are. In fact, one came to a dead stop and was cancelled quite a few years ago when a man jumped from a balcony to his death during an intermission. That's one of the things that makes the broadcasts so exciting, they are happening as you hear them.
3 - Richard Marcus
The annoucement made at the beginning of a broadcast saying that the concert had originally taken place at some other date was usually the give away. No I know that they were mostly live, but some of them wern't as not even the Met will be running a different Opera every Saturday for 52 weeks of the year.
Richard