On 1 November, at 20:00, Verdi’s Aida will resound through the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre. This concert performance of the Italian composer’s masterpiece marks the upcoming anniversary of the opera’s Russian premiere. The inimitable Elena Stikhina will take on the title role, joined by a constellation of brilliant Mariinsky Theatre soloists: Najmiddin Mavlyanov, Alexey Markov, Anna Kiknadze, Gleb Peryazev and Gennady Bezzubenkov. Gurgen Petrosyan, a laureate of the Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers and Conductors, will stand at the helm of the Mariinsky Orchestra.
Commissioned by the Khedive of Egypt to celebrate the opening of the Cairo Opera House and the completion of the Suez Canal, Aida holds the distinction of being the first Egyptian national opera. Its world premiere took place in Cairo on 24 December 1871, and from its very first performance the opera was met with resounding success. The Egyptian triumph was followed by acclaim in the composer’s homeland and then throughout Europe: Milan, Parma, Padua, Naples, Berlin, Vienna, Paris – in every city the work was received with enthusiasm.
In Russia Aida was first presented in St Petersburg, on the stage of the Bolshoi (Kamenny) Theatre, the grand predecessor of the Mariinsky Theatre. The premiere took place in 1875, performed by the Imperial Italian Opera Company. Just two years later, in 1877, Aida graced the Mariinsky Theatre, in what is now known as the Historic Stage. The performance was given in Russian (translated by Grigory Lishin) by the Imperial Russian Opera Company, with Eduard Nápravník conducting.
From its first performance in Russia Aida has captivated audiences, and for a century and a half it has remained a fixture on the operatic stage. The work combines a gripping plot, emotional expressiveness and a wealth of musical riches, ensuring its enduring popularity and a long and successful stage life.
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