Princesses in Paradise: Opera Naples, TheatreZone stage 'Aida' from Verdi, Elton John
Harriet Howard HeithausOpera Naples and TheatreZone are producing the same story during their upcoming seasons. But it's a happy kinship, not a carbon copy. Both have scheduled the famous story of "Aida," the first for Dec. 19 and 21 and the second for Feb. 7-17.
One is a heavyweight among grand opera fans, the second a rock musical with the famous names of Elton John and Tim Rice behind it.
In fact, TheatreZone and Opera Naples are suggesting people double up to see the story in its operatic format and then in the pop version. There are even plans for an evening of dishing on the historical quirks behind each. (See information box.)
"It wasn't planned at all. I didn't know they were staging 'Aida' until I ran into an Opera Naples board member," said Mark Danni, founder-artistic director of TheatreZone. But the news, he said, made him start thinking about ways to collaborate in the rare opportunity.
For beginners, there's a peek behind the scenes and along the quirky histories of both "Aida" stories in a 4 p.m. discussion Nov. 29 at the Wang Opera Center, home to Opera Naples. Attendees will hear Danni talk about the Broadway version and Thomas M. Cimarusti, FGCU associate professor of musicology, will explore the Verdi version. (If it were true to its roots, for example, the opera would have been set in the Czech Republic.)
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Verdi's' Aida' is the grandest of grand operas
Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida" is a serious work, a pillar of grand opera with its star-crossed love story of the warrior, Radames, and the Ethopian princess, Aida, a slave in the household of an Egyptian princess, Amneris. Amneris, unfortunately, also loves Radames and has power over both their fates.
It's a recipe for political and romantic intrigue, and the music is Verdi with all stops pulled. The opera has been performed somewhere around the world every year for the last century. At the Metropolitan Opera in New York alone, it has been sung more than 1,100 times since 1886. Productions have been so elaborate as to bring horses and live elephants on stage for its famous Triumphal March. That isn't currently scheduled for the Artis—Naples performances.
It is big enough to require singers from two counties, however. Opera Naples is collaborating with the Naples Philharmonic and the Symphonic Chorale of Southwest Florida to bring it to Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples for two performances Dec. 19 and 21.
"Ramon (Tebar, Opera Naples artistic director) had been wanting to do 'Aida' here for a long time, but we've been waiting for the stars to align," said Leah Summers, artistic coordinator for Opera Naples. Getting two dates separated by 24 hours and a large vocal group to augment the Opera Naples chorus were hurdles that were finally leapt for the coming season.
"We're going to have 100-plus voices in that chorus," Summers said. "This is our largest production to date."
She said she felt the company had become comfortable in its Hayes Hall partnership with Artis—Naples. "We've been doing some really nice work there, and we feel we have a good collaboration with the Naples Philharmonic," she said.
Tebar will conduct both performances, and this production will be completely staged.
The company has hopes its demand will surpass that of "Madama Butterfly," which was sold out 10 days before its performance last November. It may be the first performance of the opera in Naples.
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Rock 'Aida' blends light fun, serious heartbreak
The "Aida" written in the 1990s, also known as "Elton John and Tim Rice's 'Aida,' " takes its story from Verdi, but steeps it in 20th century personalities and plot twists, with a dollop of humor. Radames' own father has an assassination in mind even while Aida's father plots a military takeover. Princess Amneris is something of a Valley girl.
"She’s not the brightest light on the Christmas tree, but she does have quite a heart, and that comes out in the end," Danni said. There are strong "rock-out" moments such as a philosophical tug-of-war between Radames and his father, Zoser, in "Like Father, Like Son."
Musicals traditionally use some leavening to make tragedy bearable, and the contemporary "Aida" has those in tunes like Amneris' paean to her fashion sense: "My Strongest Suit."
Danni knows the Elton John-Tim Rice version well. At one time he was on call to substitute in the orchestra on Broadway, and he says the music is infectious even if it's not translatable to radio play. ("Written in the Stars," recorded by Elton John and Leeann Rimes, did reach No. 2 on the adult contemporary charts before the play opened on Broadway.)
It premiered on Broadway on March 23, 2000, running for 1,852 performances and winning four Tony awards, including best original score. Danni has the opposite challenge that Opera Naples faces of filling a stage that is roughly 2,500 square feet. He must bring the action down to a cozy 1,000 square feet in the G&L Theatre on the campus of The Community School.
"But I love the challenge of bringing a large production down to an intimate size," he said. "People like being so close to the actors. And in the end, this story is really only about four people."
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'Aida' addicts can see it in HD
The Metropolitan Opera in New York, which does a brisk business with its "Live in HD" cinema showings of Saturday matinee performances, is simulcasting its own "Aida" production, with soprano Anna Netrebko in the title role and mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris, at 12:55 p.m. Oct 6. The Met Live in HD series tickets, $23, go on sale on July 18 at fandango.com.
Seeing 'Aida'
"Backstage at the Aidas": 4 p.m. Nov. 29, Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave., Naples. Information: 239-963-9050
Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida": Dec 19 and 21. Tickets will be available beginning mid-July through Artis—Naples, where the performances are being held, at artisnaples.org or call 239-597-1900
"Elton John and Tim Rice's 'Aida'": $50 to $75; available at http://www.theatrezone-florida.com or call 888-966-3352
Singing 'Aida'
Here are several of the best known musical moments from each version of "Aida" to listen to online:
Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida"
Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida"