Netrebko triumphs as Aida

By James Imam, 12 August 2017

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“Muti's reading of the score is extraordinary, both for its sophistication and originality”

Reviewed at Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg on 9 August 2017

Verdi, Aida

Riccardo Muti, Conductor

Shirin Neshat, Director

Christian Schmidt, Set Designer

Tatyana van Walsum, Costume Designer

Ekaterina Semenchuk, Amneris

Francesco Meli, Radamès

Luca Salsi, Amonasro

Anna Netrebko, Aida

Roberto Tagliavini, King of Egypt

Dmitry Belosselskiy, Ramfis

Benedetta Torre, Priestess

Bror Magnus Tødenes, A messenger

Vienna Philharmonic

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Ernst Raffelsberger, Choirmaster / chorus director

Une céleste Aïda dans la fosse de l'Opéra Bastille

Stéphane Lelièvre, 24th September

L'opéra de Verdi en est à sa troisième nouvelle production en douze ans dans la Grande Boutique, pour un succès – une fois encore – avant tout musical…

***11

Kunstinstallation mit Sängerbeteiligung: Aida in Salzburg

Isabella Steppan, 19th August

Shirin Neshats Inszenierung bleibt trotz Überarbeitung und einem grundsätzlich interessanten Konzept problematisch; musikalisch stimmt an diesem Abend dafür (fast) alles.

****1

A noble Norma trapped in a hollow dystopia

Andrew Larkin, 24th May

Salome Jicia delivers a vocally impressive and emotionally committed Norma, but Orpha Phelan’s post-apocalyptic staging fatally weakens Bellini’s sacred tragedy.

***11

A deli-cious revival of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

Mariame Clément’s production of Rossini's meta comedy is tightly revived with some excellent singing. Come for the writing tips, stay for the cured meats.

****1

Superb musical performances in Pinchgut's Scarlatti rarity in Sydney

Sandra Bowdler, 23rd May

As usual, Pinchgut lavishes musical excellence on an obscure Baroque work... but why stage an oratorio?

****1

The Met’s Frida y Diego proves visually stunning, musically thrilling

David Wolfson, 22nd May

Deborah Colker and her design team create visually vibrant worlds for the Met’s new production of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, by Pulitzer Prize winner Gabriela Lena Frank.

*****

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James Imam

James Imam is an arts journalist writing for publications including The Financial Times, The Times, Musical America and Opera magazine. He grew up in Manchester, read anthropology at Cambridge and has since lived in Milan. As a once-aspiring countertenor he has an abiding interest in Baroque music.

Netrebko triumphs as musical performances transcend Salzburg Festival staging of Aida