SPAIN: MADRID'S BULLFIGHTING ARENA TURNED INTO A STAGE FOR THE SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE OF AIDA

Record ID: 376032

  • Title: SPAIN: MADRID'S BULLFIGHTING ARENA TURNED INTO A STAGE FOR THE SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE OF AIDA
  • Date: 25th June 1996
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JUNE 25 AND 26, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) (JUNE 25, DAYLIGHT) 1. LV BULLFIGHTING ARENA 0.05 2. LV/SV OF BULLFIGHTING ARENA WITH DOZENS OF WORKERS SETTING UP STAGE (2 SHOTS) 0.16 3. MCU LUCA FINOTTO, MARKETING DIRECTOR, SAYING THE IDEA OF THIS SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE IS TO MAKE THE OPERA MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE CROWD, LIKE IN THE BEGINNING OF HISTORY (SPANISH) 0.31 4. LAS OF DANCERS TRAINING/ SV DANCERS RELAXED DURING BREAK IN REHEARSAL (3 SHOTS) 0.44 5. SV SINGERS IN REHEARSAL 0.50 (JUNE 26, 1996)(NIGHT VIEWS) 6. GV/SV AIDA BEING PERFORMED, EXCERPT FROM "THE TRIUMPHAL MARCH" (9 SHOTS) 1.30 7. LV ANIMALS, INCLUDING ELEPHANTS, ON STAGE (5 SHOTS) 2.15 8. MCU ADELA GOOCH SAYING WELL IT IS A VERY EXCITING SPECTACLE WITH MANY ACTORS, IT IS VERY PRETTY, IT IS NOT SOMETHING FOR THE TOURISTS BECAUSE THE ACOUSTICS OF THE BULL RING ARE NOT VERY GOOD BUT YOU HAVE TO COME TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND IT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE (SPANISH) 2.28 9. MCU EUGENIO GOMEZ SAYING IT IS MARVELLOUS, VERY IMPRESSIVE STAGING, I HAVE TRAVELLED 300 KILOMETRES (190 MILES) WITH MY WIFE TO SEE IT AND I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SEE SUCH AN EVENT AGAIN. I AM VERY IMPRESSED IT IS VERY MOVING (SPANISH) 2.54 10.LV OF BULLRING/OPERA IN PROGRESS 3.08 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 10th July 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVAAV1F13NSX49O9LCXA4MZH4ZEP
  • Story Text: INTRO: One of the world's best-loved operas has entered the technological age as live animals, virtual reality, computers and lasers combine for the Aida of the 20th Century.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------- Madrid's bullfighting arena turned into an spectacular outdoor stage on Wednesday (June 26) for the performance of Giuseppe Verdi's classic opera Aida, which tells the love story between an Egyptian officer and Ethiopian slave.

    Under a 17 metre-high (60 foot) laser pyramid, opera goers were entertained by a cast of 1,500 people - including extras, singers, musicians, chorus members - and animals including elephants, camels, horses and even a 55-kilogramme (120 pound) python on the huge 1,500 square meters stage.

    The Egyptian Pharaohs, pyramids and the mysterious Sphinx which inspired Verdi to compose Aida 125 years ago come to life in this modern version thanks to a sophisticated sound and lighting system.

    The elaborate show cost 400 million pesetas (3.2 million U.S.

    dollars) to stage and organisers expect 70,000 people to attend the four performances in Madrid.

    Among opera lovers who paid from 4,500 pesetas (36 U.S.

    dollars) to 35,000 pesetas (280 U.S. dollars) were Queen Sofia, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and other top government officials.

    The high-point of the evening was "The Triumphal March" when most of the cast was on-stage under the giant laser screen, including flag-wavers, soldiers, slaves, captives, dancers, trumpeters and animals.

    The magnificient production, designed, created and directed by Italian musician Giussepe Raffa, has already been attended by more than 2 million people in the main capitals of Europe, Asia and America.

    The stars of the premiere were German soprano Monica Pick Hieromi as Aida and Italian tenor Nicola Martinucci as the Egyptian officer Radames.


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