We round up the reviews for Robert Carsen’s production of Verdi’s opera.
Broadway World: *** “But this is (and Aida always will be) an opera about spectacle as much as music, and the chorus is key to that. Not only does William Spaulding have them parade with er… military precision, but also provide singing both full-throated in triumph and gorgeously subtle in an all but whispered accompaniment when required. They embody the opera’s scale – at once, that of a totalitarian regime and also of a secret, dangerous, forbidden love affair.”
Bachtrack: **** “I haven’t always been a fan of Daniel Oren’s conducting, but it was faultless on this occasion. He particularly impressed with his control of dynamics: some daring pianissimi for the off-stage choruses made space for the levels to be steadily ratcheted up so that the big set-piece moments made a real impact.”
The Guardian: *** “Under Daniel Oren, the orchestral ensemble was periodically strained and the score’s many shifts of gear were managed largely by step-changes. Despite some beautifully shaped woodwind solos, many of the more delicate passages lacked polish. The Royal Opera Chorus were the stars of this show – the men’s voices exquisitely blended and superbly atmospheric in their quiet passages, barely more than murmured.”
The Telegraph: *** “Robert Carsen’s abstract revival of Verdi’s opera feels like a work-in-progress of a dauntingly all-too-topical show.”
Opera Wire: “Carsen’s tokens from the recent past would find a better home in Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” where their bare sameness could evoke Stalinist Russia’s uniformity. Amidst this cohort of contrasting emblems, media and interpretations, the participants in this revival of “Aïda” were hard-pressed to capture its Romantic essence.”
The Stage: **** “Spectacular blend of human passion and military precision.”
London Unattached: **** “Carsen’s take on Aida feels more relevant than ever as the world reshapes itself around competing power blocks and aggression seems to be the new normal. With some stellar singing, this production is the Royal Opera at the top of its game. Go if you can.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/aida-details