On this day in 1871, Aida (an opera in 4 acts) by Giuseppe Verdi was performed for the very first time. It debuted at the Khedivial Opera House (first opened in 1869) in Cairo, Egypt.
Verdi, an Italian romantic composer, was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. He was commissioned to write the opera for a performance in January 1871, but the premiere was delayed because of the Franco-Prussian War.
Aida met with great success & acclaim in 1871 and even today it appears as number 16 on Opera America's list of the 20 most-performed operas in North America!
Verdi's opera has been adapted for motion pictures and its music has been recorded many times over the years.
The story of Aida (not its music) was even used as the basis for a stage version produced by Disney's Hyperion Theatricals. New music was written for the show (which debuted in 1998) by Elton John and Tim Rice. Because of Disney's success, Aida has become popular among school and community theaters.
Click HERE for more December 24 Disney history.
Happy Holidays!
No comments:
Post a Comment