“Aida” at The Arena di Verona, Italy
“Every Story is a Love Story”
My first experience of opera singing was at Restaurant Bel Canto in Paris, France. During the wonderful dining experience, we were serenaded by the staff who are trained opera singers. The Bel Canto experience is truly a special one, and since then it was on my bucket list to watch opera performances.
As I travelled to Italy during Verona Opera Festival 2017, I got the opportunity to watch the amazing opera productions at the biggest open-air theatre in the world – Arena di Verona. Attending the performance in the best-preserved Roman amphitheater in Italy, which was built in the first century, was a surreal experience. It was an unforgettable evening.
The Arena has hosted many concerts and performances of the most notable opera singers, such as Luciano Pavarotti, Giuseppe Di Stefano and Andrea Bocelli, and international rock and pop singers and bands such as Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and Radiohead. The Arena di Verona is also the romantic setting for “Intimism on Ice”, an internationally highly acclaimed spectacular show, which combines great music, fashion, and skating.
Nicky Urban provides travel street photography, fine art prints, gifts, wall art and art deco for your home and office.
During my visit, I chose “Aida”, a timeless love story based on the classical Verdi production, which is known for its extravagant stage productions and amazing musical arrangements.
Aida is an opera in four acts with breaks in between and the show lasted more than four hours. There were two large screens that provide subtitles in English. The performance was heartfelt, the musical was in full glory, with romance, intrigue, war, love, betrayal, guilt, power, and religion.
Aida is a story about an ancient love triangle. The character focused on the enslaved Nubian princess, Aida, the Egyptian Captain, Radames, and the Egyptian princess, Amneris. I was deeply absorbed in the magnificent play, and at the end of it, there was a big lump in my throat. Life can be unfair sometimes.
Aida: “If you don’t like your fate, change it. You are your own master. There are no shackles on you.”
As their forbidden love grown deeper, Aida and Radames chose to renounce the world. They believe that only death will unite them forever and make their love immortal.
Aida & Radames: “I’m so tired of all we’re going through. I don’t want to love like that. I just wanna be with you. Now and forever, peaceful, true.”
Love stories are reflections of our own experience and expectations from life. Whilst watching this play, my mind visualized myself as the main characters, how they feel and think. I imagined myself as Aida, put myself in the shoes of Radames, and most importantly, my feelings of Princess Amneris.
In my personal opinion, Amneris has the biggest heart. She came off as a shallow ‘bimbo’ when in fact she is a sweet, smart and compassionate person. She is willing to do anything for Radames, even to share her love with Aida, her favourite slave, whom she considered as her closest friend and sister. In my opinion, Amneris felt dejected and was the most hurt.
“Why do I still want him? Why, when there’s nothing there?”
“How to go on with the rest of my life to pretend I don’t care?”
Sometimes we cannot understand love. Love can drive a person insane. There is always a daunting feeling inside us that things will never be perfect. At some point, we must realize that some people can stay in our heart, but not in our life. And we get hope from Aida that we will find our perfect match – someone out there who will love us eternally.
Bring Home the Magic of Aida: Explore Our Art Prints Collection
If you’ve ever been moved by the power of love, as portrayed in the timeless opera “Aida,” you can now capture that emotion in your own space. At Nicky Urban, we offer a curated collection of photography art prints, canvas wall art, and fine art prints that allow you to relive the beauty and drama of this enchanting story.
Our art prints bring the essence of “Aida” into your home or office, allowing you to cherish the themes of love, sacrifice, and the human experience every day. Whether you’re drawn to the passionate love triangle or the depth of Amneris’s character, our fine art prints can evoke those emotions whenever you gaze upon them.
Experience the magic of “Aida” in a whole new way with our art prints. Explore our collection today and let the opera’s powerful message of love and hope inspire your surroundings.
NICKY URBAN
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