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Art Alert: From Verdi's villa to Cairo, a journey never completed Exhibition of over 30 photographs tracing composer Giuseppe Verdi's life and cooperation with Egypt on opera 'Aida' to feature at Italian Cultural Centre
Upcoming exhibition 'From Verdi's villa to Cairo, a journey never completed' is a compilation of photographs by artist Sandro Vannini revealing fragments from Verdi's life in Sant'Agata, along with many documents describing the composer's work on opera Aida. Correspondence between the composer, his assistant, and the author of Aida's Libretto comprises part of the exhibition. The collection also includes photographs of drawings depicting Aida rehearsals, highlighting interesting moments within production and certain characters from the opera. Aida was first performed at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on 24 December 1871. However, Verdi considered its Milan premiere - on 8 February 1872 - as thereal premiereand remained closely involved in this production of the masterpiece. Milan's performance was probably one of the most striking operatic successes of the century. According to the notes accompanying the exhibition, Verdi was asked to the stage 33 times after the premiere, and the public then followed the Maestro to his hotel, chanting triumphantly. The exhibition was previously displayed at Cairo Opera House between 22 and 27 October, as part of a presentation of Verdi to Egyptian audiences through a number of activities. As part of this display, the BookViva Villa Verdiby Sandro Vannini, with an introduction by renowned conductor Ricardo Muti, provided a window into the composer's mansion in Sant'Agata. However, the exhibition at the Italian Cultural Centre will be limited to the photographs related to opera Aida. Born in 1959, Sandro Vannini - the Italian photographer - worked between Egypt and Italy, and had his artwork published in a number of prestigious Italian magazines. In the 1990s he collaborated with Zahi Hawass, the Egyptian archaeologist, Egyptologist and former Minister of State for Antiquities. They worked together for many years to document the archaeological heritage of Egypt, including Coptic and Islamic treasures, and published several books authored by Hawass featuring Vannini's photography, including The Royal Tombs of Thebes, Tutankhamon, Lost Tombs of ThebesandA Secret Voyage. ## Programme: The exhibition: 'From Verdi's villa to Cairo, a journey never completed,' will open on Sunday 10 November at 7pm. It will continue until 24 November, every day between 10am and 8pm (except Fridays and Saturdays). Italian Cultural Centre, 3, El-Sheikf El-Marsafi Street (in front of Beano's cafe), Zamalek. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/85762.aspx
