By: Amina Abdul Salam CAIRO, March 3, 2018 - The opera “Aida” will return to where it all began and will be performed at the Pyramids of Giza, to mark the 150th anniversary of its first performance. “Aida” has not been performed at home for 10 years and now it will be put on, on March 8 and 9. Repeat performances will be organised over the next three years. This year, there will be performances at the Pyramids, and in the next two years (2019, 2020), the show will go on at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, said Yasser Mustafa, Head of S. P. Tours, the organising company, at a press conference held at the Sound and Light Theatre, on the Pyramids plateau. Mustafa said, “Opera Aida is made up of Egyptian, Ethiopian and Italian elements. The story revolves round Radames, an Egyptian army commander and Aida, an Ethiopian princess who hides her identity and is the slave of Princess Amneris, daughter of the king. The opera is the work of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.” Mustafa noted that the idea of putting on “Aida” was prompted by the fact that this year marks the Opera's 150th anniversary and theatres all over the world were preparing to mark the occasion, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Tokyo Opera and the Dubai Opera. He said that Opera Aida would help attract more tourists to the country, especially as the show would be performed in an outdoor theatre, with the Pyramids and Sphinx as a backdrop. Moreover, for such a global event to be organised in Egypt, confirms that Egypt is secure and stable. This will help promote tourism and hotel occupancy between March 8 and 11 is expected to be 75 per cent, with the rate in the Pyramids area going up to 100 per cent, said Mustafa. “The total cost of the performance on March 8 and 9 is LE13 million. Tickets can be bought anywhere in the world and cost between $100 and $500,” said Mustafa. He added that agreement had been reached with a German and a Japanese agency to promote and market the event. The theatre has a 3000-seat capacity and 3000 tickets have already been sold. Attending the show will be diplomatic figures, including 20 Arab ambassadors, senior officials, artists and all the Egyptian ministers. Media consultant Yassmin Abdul Rahman said that the media coverage would be available to all foreign media through the State Information Service and for the local media through the Tourism Promotion Authority. ustafa said “Aida” would be directed Egyptian director Abdulla Saad. Dragana Radakovic will have the role of Aida and Dario di Vietri will play Radames. The three-hour performance will begin at 7pm. The show will involve 530 performers, eight of them foreign artist, and 35 musicians. The 1500-square-metre stage will have sets designed to reflect various Ancient Egyptian scenes and royal settings.
