Aïda – Ellen Kent Opera International

Aïda demands more grand spectacle than the Theatre Royal usually affords, yet this was a very special evening. Elena Dee (Aïda) and Sorin Lupu (Radames) led an impressive cast. Their full, rich voices (no-one is amplified) were heroically supported by conductor Nicolae Dohotaru’s excellent yet minimal orchestra. The tiny chorus too sounded well above its number. The famous Grand March features a fire act. Local children danced some delightful ballet sequences. What a wonderful introduction to Grand Opera for them, no doubt stars of the future. This enchanting Ellen Kent production conjured our local stage into a triumphant Egyptian epic!

Theatre Royal Brighton, 26 November 2013
Rating:
Andrew Connal