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Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet TheatreA. Vienuolio g. 1, Vilnius, 01104, Lithuania
Dates/times in Vilnius time zone
Friday 23 October 202618:30
Saturday 24 October 202618:30
Sunday 25 October 202618:00
Wednesday 28 October 202618:30
Thursday 29 October 202618:30
Friday 30 October 202618:30
Programme
Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)AidaLibretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
Performers
Lithuanian National Opera
Martynas StaškusConductorOct 29, 30
Ričardas ŠumilaConductorOct 23, 24, 25, 28
Gediminas ŠeduikisDirector
Sigita ŠimkūnaitėSet Designer
Sandra StraukaitėCostume Designer
Andrius StasiulisLighting Designer
Lithuanian National Opera Orchestra
Lithuanian National Opera Chorus
Sesto QuatriniDirector
Martynas RimeikisChoreography
Justina GringytėMezzo-sopranoAmnerisOct 23, 25, 29
Ester PavlůMezzo-sopranoAmnerisOct 24, 28, 30
Jorge PuertaTenorRadamèsOct 23, 25, 29
Gaston RiveroTenorRadamèsOct 24, 28, 30
Kostas SmoriginasBass-baritoneAmonasroOct 23, 25, 29
Arūnas MalikėnasBassAmonasroOct 24, 28, 30
Viktorija MiškūnaitėSopranoAidaOct 23, 25, 29
Kseniya BakhritdinovaSopranoAidaOct 24, 28, 30
Paulius PrasauskasBassKing of EgyptOct 23, 25, 29
Raimundas JuzuitisBass-baritoneKing of EgyptOct 24, 28, 30
Liudas MikalauskasBassRamfisOct 23, 25, 29
Tadas GirininkasBassRamfisOct 24, 28, 30
Kamile BontéSopranoPriestessOct 23, 25, 29
Austėja ZinkevičiūtėSopranoPriestessOct 24, 28, 30
Rafailas KarpisTenorA messengerOct 23, 25, 29
Karolis KašiubaTenorA messengerOct 24, 28, 30

The premiere of Aida, one of Giuseppe Verdi's most famous operas, is associated with important events – namely, the opening of the Cairo Opera House, which, in turn, was dedicated to the inauguration of the Suez Canal. Although everything did not go as smoothly as expected (Verdi did not agree to take up the creation of this opera for a long time, and eventually Rigoletto had to be shown for the opening of the theatre), on 24 December 1871 the unveiling of Aida started the triumphant march of this opera through stages of the world, which continues to this day.

The story of the opera takes place in the ancient Egyptian kingdom and tells the love story between the Egyptian army commander Radames and the Ethiopian slave Aida. There is a complication: Radames is also loved by Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh... However, the drama of the plot is not only a love story, but also the conflict between duty, loyalty to one's country, patriotism and personal emotional experiences. The greatness of Egypt and the passions of the heroes are expressively conveyed through the music: it is full of wonderful arias, choruses, and impressive scenes. And the celebratory trumpets in the scene of the triumphant return of Radames probably sound even in the memory of those who have not seen this opera.

Staged several times at the Lithuanian Opera, this time at the LNOBT Aida is produced by director Gediminas Šeduikis. His opera vision speaks of a romantic feel and taste based on events happening in a distant and unknown world.

© Martynas Aleksa
© Martynas Aleksa