Forbidden love in times of war: Aida at The Royal Opera

George Andguladze (King of Egypt) and Raehann Bryce-Davis (Amneris)

Anna Pirozzi (Aida) and Amartuvshin Enkhbat (Amonasro)

Jorge de Léon (Radamès)

Aida Act 2

By David Karlin, 29 January 2025

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“the highest praise I can give to Carsen is that he has made me re-evaluate the opera”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 28 January 2025

Verdi, Aida

The Royal Opera

Daniel Oren, Conductor

Robert Carsen, Director, Lighting Designer

Miriam Buether, Set Designer

Annemarie Woods, Costume Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

Peter van Praet, Lighting Designer

Duncan McLean, Video

Anna Pirozzi, Aida

Raehann Bryce-Davis, Amneris

Jorge de León, Radamès

Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Amonasro

George Andguladze, King of Egypt

Alexander Köpeczi, Ramfis

Khayakazi Madlala, Priestess

Andrés Presno, A messenger

Rebecca Howell, Choreography

The Turn of the Screw at RBO Linbury: Darkness and denial

Eleanor Knight, 26th March

Natalie Abrahami’s mesmerising new production of Britten’s ghostly tale of sexual abuse is very dark indeed.

*****

A riveting Rigoletto revival at the Royal Opera House

Dominic Lowe, 25th March

Sir Mark Elder celebrates 50 years at Covent Garden by returning to his first opera there in 1976 – Verdi's Rigoletto – in a revival of Oliver Mears' excellent 2021 production.

****1

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

Ermonela Jaho returns in triumph to The Royal Opera’s Traviata

Mark Valencia, 8th January

Richard Eyre’s 32-year-old production is rarely out of The Royal Opera’s repertoire for more than a few months at a time, but this particular revival proves very special.

*****

Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

David Karlin, 15th December

Andrei Șerban’s 40 year old take on Puccini's tale of the ice princess largely stands the test of time, but Netrebko and Eyvazov are short of their best form.

***11

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.