On 5 July 2019 I will be present in Verona to participate in the historical edition of Aida which will be performed by the director Francesco Ivan Ciampa. The direction is by Gianfranco de Bosio, inspired by the first 1913 staging by Ettore Fagiuoli.
The history of the opera sessions in Arena was born in 1913 to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. The Veronese tenor Giovanni Zenatello with some other participants (including his wife Maria Gay, choir master Ferruccio Cusinati and theater manager Ottone Rovato), had the idea of celebrating the occasion with a great show in the Arena. The choice fell on one of Verdi’s most famous works, namely the Aida, which would have been a grandiose show, suitable for enhancing the large spaces of the amphitheater. The scenography was entrusted to the Veronese architect, Ettore Fagiuoli who, resorting to a few essential elements that exploited the background of the Roman steps, succeeded in obtaining a result of great scenic impact. It is 10 August 1913; date of the first edition of Aida in the Arena, a date that is also one of the most important international events of the early twentieth century, sanctioning the birth of the subsequent lyric seasons.
I have already participated in similar events as a journalist for the editors of Slovenian “Grazia” in connection with the Italian magazine, dealing with its various sections including fashion, variety and culture. That of Aida will certainly be an unrepeatable event!
