Aida returns to the Pyramids

By Rehab Saad

Aida:Cherchez la femme

The week-long performance, which began on Monday night, forms part of the silver jubilee celebrations for the October War. It also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the new Cairo Opera House.

Dignitaries and hundreds of tourists from around the world joined Egyptians who had come to watch the epic love story of Egyptian army chief Radames and Aida, the daughter of his arch-enemy, the king of Ethiopia.

Mrs Suzanne Mubarak attended the gala opening. The audience included a number of international celebrities such as Henrik, prince consort of Denmark, Italian designer Rocco Barocco and Mary Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Eisenhower.

"In the past, we needed Luxor to present the romantic side of the opera, but now we have the experience to carry out more ambitious plans," said executive producer Hassan Kami. "It is time to combine romanticism with spectacle."

Security was strict as hundreds of policemen were deployed at the intersections and along main roads leading to the Pyramids. Roadblocks were set up in front of the Mena House, where policemen searched cars.

Special shuttles ferried opera-goers from the hotel to the ancient monuments, which served as a backdrop for Verdi's opera.

A large parking area was allocated for the buses and the private cars which were allowed to enter the sanctuary of the Pyramids. Kami announced plans to expand the 3,000-seat theatre to accommodate up to 6,000 spectators in 1999 and 12,000 in 2000. "The production is an example of what will be presented in the coming two years. We will try next year to build a bigger theatre, to get better performers and to improve the production by getting real horses for the war scenes. Next year's production will be three times as large as this year's," he added.

Cairo Opera House officials said almost 90 per cent of the seats for the opening night were sold, while 60 per cent of seats for the other nights had already gone. They expect reservations to mount to 80 per cent by the end of the week of performances.

"About 110 foreign corespondents and 100 local journalists were there to cover the event. The crew of Egyptian Television numbered 110 and Cairo Radio sent 32," said Mustafa El-Tawansi, a spokesman for the producers.

According to Kami, this year's performance had a LE15 million budget in addition to LE2 million provided by private entrepreneurs. "MobiNil is the main sponsor, while EgyptAir, Mena House Oberoi and Le Meridien Pyramids also contributed," he said. "I believe the day will come when Aida will be self-financing, but this should be done under the supervision of the Opera House."

"Unlike in previous years the production, the direction, the ballet, half the choir and the orchestra are Egyptian, in addition to one of the soloists, Reda El-Wakil. In total, it is an 85 per cent local production," Kami said.

Opera singers Maria Guleghina, Leona Mitchell and Lucia Mazaria play Aida while Vladimir Galouzine and Nicole Martinucci play Radamis, her lover. The performance is conducted by Patrick Fournillier and Giorgio Croci and directed by Abdel-Moneim Kamel.

Prices for the gala opening ranged from $100 to $250 for non-resident foreigners, while tickets for other performances range from $75 to $200. Egyptians and foreign residents paid between LE100 and LE250 for the opening and between LE75 and LE200 for other nights.

Not everyone involved gave such a rosy view as the Opera House administrators. "If you intend to have Aida here next year, you should start marketing it next week," said Zahi Hawwas, antiquities director of the Giza Plateau. One criticism was a parking area that had been set up close to the Pyramids. "I think this should be reconsidered next year. Cars and buses shouldn't be allowed to go up there again because this will affect the monuments. There should be a parking area near the Sphinx and opera-goers can be shuttled to the venue."

"The performance was great, but I didn't like the fact that there was rubble around the site; it was difficult making our way to the venue," said Magda Sadek, an Egyptian opera-goer.

Other people complained of the cost of the refreshments. A small bottle of water cost LE5, the same as a Coca-Cola. "They were even warm," Mohamed Ismail added.

"The setting is magnificent," said Katarina Ammitzbol, who works for the UNDP in Egypt, adding that she had never seen anything like it before. "The performance went smoothly and was very elegant," she said.

Bernarde Geraldive, who came from Prague with her husband to see the opera, said: "This is the place where Aida should take place. We read about last year's performance in Luxor and decided to come this year to see for ourselves. We also went to Luxor for a three-day visit."

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