Aida: All-Deserving Praise
“Aida” represents the epitome of the ill-fated love triangle. Even with its cliché qualities of love, war, envy, and death, this performance never once has a dull, predictable moment. This psychological tug-of-war for Aida, Radames, and Amneris is perfectly conveyed in every word, movement, and facial expression.
The magnetic, Angela Brown as Aida, stuns the audience by hitting every seemingly impossible note with such ease and gentleness. The bright resonance of her voice creates a sound that reverberates throughout the stadium. The male hero, Radames, is the destined role for Franco Farina, whose strong-build correlates perfectly with his deep, vibrato tenor counter-part. All roles sang flawlessly with the orchestra, of course only in conjunction with each flick of the wrist from conductor, Mr. Ono.
The production in itself only confirms its already pre-conceived reputation and sold-out shows. Each character glittered under the bright lights with each unique costume, full of color and life. The colossal set is one that seems too good to be true, with its stringent details of color, texture, and overall structure. Looking around, one could see the stunned faces of the audience when the gorgeous horses trotted on stage along with the soldiers descending on the moving set during Act I and II.
The show takes every pair of eyes and ears back to ancient times where two war-torn nations shed blood, while the plot simultaneously circles around the “Shakespearean-like” love affair. Giusepppe Verdi’s “Aida” is an operatic masterpiece, and for many a privilege to see. Without doubt, all of the grueling work has paid off because this production will remain an undeniable show.