Aida notes

I said last week that I would write again more fully about Acis and Dido, and I did mean to, but things got in the way and then I exhausted myself writing rather long reviews of the double bill for elsewhere. That said, I still want to do a proper write-up here, not because I imagine anyone's hungering for it, but for my own peace of mind, really. But that might as well wait now until Thursday, when I finally see the show for the second time. (Can you believe it? I've missed not one but two performances of a show containing Yvonne Kenny.) 

Meanwhile — at the risk of this becoming a bad habit — just a few words about Aida, which opened tonight. Genuine brevity this time — at least by my standards. Not even paragraphs, just a list. What I'd like to say about Aida is:

 

1. Please, can we keep Tamara Wilson? Alert customs. Don't let her leave. She's fabulous.

2. Surely Opera Australia has one of the finest opera choruses anywhere. Michael Black — and all choristers — I salute you.

3. This was almost like seeing two different performances of Aida on the same evening. Acts I & II were less than inspiring, despite some excellent singing. But just as I was resigning myself to more of the same, Acts III and IV came along and blew me away. Honestly, it was the strangest thing: a decidedly unspecial first half, followed by an amazing second half which has me determined to catch at least one more performance before this cast disbands. 

4. Graeme Murphy's production seems designed to be viewed from the dead centre of the theatre, so if you're booking,you might want to try for seats near the middle. I was in E14 and often felt (in the first half) that I was seeing it all side on.

5. The dancing is inevitable and occasionally superfluous, but a lot of it is pretty fantastic and a couple of numbers are pure genius. 

6. Milijana Nikolic's Amneris takes a while to warm up. But when she does... watch out. 

7. I don't think I've ever stamped my feet for so many members of a cast. 

8. The verdict? See it. It ain't perfect, but see it. With this cast if you can. 

Comments

[Tristan Vieira]

In regards to yours comments that "Surely Opera Australia has one of the finest opera choruses anywhere", could you please elaborate as to how exactly you have arrived at such a conclusion? I'd better very interested to read which other choruses you have compared it with and why OA came up as "one of the finest". Thanks.

[Sarah]

It's not meant to sound like a conclusion, that's why I said "surely". I don't have a whole lot to compare them with - at least not live - but they sound so good it's hard to imagine their being much bettered. That's all.

[Andrew]

Well I'm with you Sarah (and I do have a lot to compare them with). Voice for voice they are right up there with the finest and most energetic opera choruses I have heard or seen anywhere. They have off nights from time to time and do certain rep better than others, but on average they are right up there.