The History of Opera Aida
In 1869 Khedive Ismail gave instructions to build an Opera House on the occasion of the inauguration of the Suez Canal. It was called Khedivial (Royal) Opera House. The Khedive Opera House was constructed in only six months to the design of two Italian architects, Avoscani and Rossi. Outstanding specialists with wide experience in theater construction were brought to Egypt to carry out the work.
Before the building was complete, the Khedive started to prepare a great performance for his project that should reflect the rich ancient Egyptian history. He selected Auguste Mariette Pasha, the famous Egyptologist and founder of the Egyptian Department of Antiquities to prepare an Egyptian themed story that can be adapted into an opera.
Mariette commissioned the Italian poem Gialanzoni to write the libretto, and the musician Verdi was commissioned by the Khedive to compose the music. The result was the famous opera, Aida, with its patriotic subject and superb music.
However, Aida was not ready by the inauguration of the Opera House so another masterpiece by Verdi; Rigoletto was performed on the 1st of November 1869. Opera Aida itself was performed two years later on 24 December 1871.
About Opera Aida