AIDA at the 61th Split Summer Festival (CROATIA) July 25-27, 2015 ENGLISH VERSION
Conductor: Gianluca Martinenghi- Stage director: Dražen Siriščević
- Set design: Slaven Raos
- Costumes: Juraj Zigman
- Choreography: Oskar Harmoš i Dinko Bogdanić
- Light design: Zoran Mihanović
- Choir: Ana Šabašov
Cast:
- The king of Egypt: Ivica Šarić
- Amneris: Sofia Janelidze
- Aida: Dimitra Theodossiou
- Radames: Mikheil Sheshaberidze
- Ramfis: Ivica Čikeš
- Amonasro: Ventseslav Anastasov
- Messenger: Vinko Maroević
- Sacerdotessa: Antonija Teskera
- Choir, orchestra and ballet: HNK Split
In a splendid open palace of Diocletian of Split (Croatia) for the occasion of celebrating the 61st Festival of Split, Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida was presented on the 25th of July (second performance 27th of July).
Conductor Gianluca Martinenghi with his extraordinary precision and correctness offered an excellent interpretation of Verdi’s masterpiece. He put particular accent of creating musical equilibrium between orchestra and stage. Beautiful staging of Dražen Siriščević with all respect of traditions successfully resolved the difficulty and particularity of the dimensions of palace stage.
Guest star Dimitra Theodossiou – an excellent Aida once again proved her international fame as a great singer and actress and interpreted the role with incomparable experience and bravura.
It was a role debut for Georgian tenor Mikheil SheShaberidze in the role of Radames. He impressed with generosity of his rich and powerful voice and clear phrasing. Amneris, interpreted by Sofia Janelidze was also a role debut. She perfectly combined acting presence with beautiful signings: rich and colourful timbre. In the scene of justice she displayed all the beauty and power of her voice and personality. Very intense was the character of Ventseslav Anastasov in the role of Amonasro, as well as Ivica Čikeš in the role of Ramfis. Also the king, Sacerdotezs and the messenger were well interpreted and correct, as well as the whole choir and ballet.
Both performances were sold out! The public expressed its gratitude with long applause and standing ovations.
