A Magnificent AIDA – with Animals in the Triumphal March! – JULY 18, 20, 26, 28 ( Photo Credit: www.Cincinnati Opera.com)
Hailed by the Cincinnati Enquirer as “the most sensational production this city has ever seen.”
Production features horses and a hawk in Act II’s Triumphal March
CINCINNATI – On Thursday, July 18, Cincinnati Opera begins a series of four performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s grand Aida. Our powerhouse cast is led by soprano Latonia Moore in the title role. After her surprise Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida last season, the New York Times raved that “the audience loved her.” Antonello Palombi, “one of today’s finest dramatic tenors” (Music in Cincinnati), sings Radamès, and mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung brings her “dark-hued, angelic voice” (New York Times) to the role of Amneris. And many Cincinnati Opera favorites return, including baritone Gordon Hawkins as Amonasro, bass Morris Robinson as Ramfis, bass Gustav Andreassen as the King of Egypt, and soprano Alexandra Schoeny as the High Priestess. Esteemed conductor Carlo Rizzi leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
|
With its soaring music, exotic setting, and parade of live horses during the Act II Triumphal March, Aida gloriously delivers on all that opera is meant to be. The 2007 debut of this production broke Cincinnati Opera box office records, and the Cincinnati Enquirer hailed it as “the most sensational production this city has ever seen.” Special features of this year’s Triumphal March scene include horses and a hawk from Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Leading the parade of horses is Justice, a 19-year-old quarterhorse who served 14 years in the Cincinnati Police Department’s mounted patrol unit. He will be ridden by owner Roberta Utecht of the Cincinnati Police Department. Justice was assigned to Utecht when she rode in the mounted patrol unit, and she brought him to her Milford farm when he retired. This will be a performing arts debut for both horse and rider, but Justice has seen his share of crowds; he was on patrol during the 2001 riots. Justice has been fitted with special shoes to protect the Music Hall stage. Cincinnati Zoo bird trainer Eddie Annal will once again appear in full costume and makeup with a predatory bird in the Triumphal March. This year, the feathered star is Vegas the Harris Hawk. Prior to the July 18 opening night performance of Aida, MYCincinnati will present an orchestra of 40 young string players in a concert at Washington Park from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. The concert will include arrangements from “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot, the Finale of Rossini’s William Tell Overture, and the Triumphal March from Aida. MYCincinnati is a free youth orchestra program in Price Hill inspired by the Venezuelan music education program El Sistema, which uses music as a vehicle for social change. Description: Aida, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by her enemy Egypt, finds herself helplessly drawn to Radamès, her captor, and grapples with the question of betraying Radamès to protect her beloved homeland, or surrendering completely to true love. For additional information about Cincinnati Opera, please visit www.cincinnatiopera.org. For additional information about MYCincinnati, please visit www.MYCincinnatiOrchestra.org. |
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Cincinnati Opera presents Aida
Thursday, July 18
6:15 p.m. MYCincinnati concert, Washington Park
6:30 p.m. Opera Insights with Evans Mirageas, Corbett Tower
7:30 p.m. Aida
Saturday, July 20
6:30 p.m. Opera Insights with Evans Mirageas, Ballroom
7:30 p.m. Aida
11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.: Pride Night Celebration, Corbett Tower
Friday, July 26
6:30 p.m. Opera Insights with Evans Mirageas, Corbett Tower
7:30 p.m. Aida
Sunday, July 28
2:00 p.m. Opera Insights with Evans Mirageas, Corbett Tower
3:00 p.m. Aida
Location:
Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Tickets: Tickets start at $35. To order, call the Cincinnati Opera Box Office at (513) 241-2742 or visit www.cincinnatiopera.org/tickets.
