Aida
As one walks into the Metropolitan Opera House, one is in awe by its grandeur and needs a couple of seconds to absorb the energy. Then, the lights dim, the curtains rise, and the opera begins. Instantly, the audience is dazzled by the impressive stage, only to witness it quadruple in size once the stage backdrop rises. Throughout it all, the audience listens to the orchestra play smooth melodies coupled with the powerful voices of the singers. One never knew that ears could sustain and capture such sounds, pitches and wavelengths. The experience could have been therapeutic by simply having the audience close their eyes and listen to it all.
The singers were as equally impressive as the stage they performed on. Angela Brown lived up to her reputation as a soprano and delivered powerful blow after blow of lyrical music. The Italian dialogue made the opera that much more beautiful and captivating, adding emotion and curiosity to it.
Furthermore, the most memorable moment of the play was the Triumphal March. The stage, horses, carriages, and innumerable number of marching soldiers were amazing, but the lighting was most impressive. Until then the stage had been dark and shadowed, but the lighting resembled that of the sun perfectly. One would not have been surprised if the sun were actually above the stage; this is how real it was. The lighting could not be matched by any other opera or Broadway show. However, Aida’s grandeur was not enough to conquer its weakness: its length.
Three and a half hours is a long time. By the third act the audience is habituated to the grandeur, so the amazing stage, music, and energy are just not as amazing anymore. Unfortunately, one could actually doze off and block out the music. This is not to say that Aida became dull from after the second act, it was still captivating, but it was just as captivating from the start. Therefore, with all of its magnificence and sensory stimulation the length of the opera was its weakness and hindered it from obtaining its full potential.
In all, Aida is the perfect opera for anyone who has not witnessed an opera before, because the MET eliminates all negative connotation associated with the opera. Such as, boredom, loudness, confusion, and dullness, instead the MET reveals the opera’s upbeat, euphoric, tragic, and entertaining side. Angela Brown delivers a brilliant performance through her powerful voice and smooth melody. The orchestral music eliminates the actions and scenarios of the opera. Although Aida is three and a half hours long, it is worth it. Therefore, Aida embodies the definition of an opera and should be the standard that all opera’s aim to reach.