| Marketing Copy | AIDA, with music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) and a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, is a staple of the operatic repertoire. The story, set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, tells of tragic love challenged by jealousy and loyalty to country and family. Commissioned by Cairo’s Khedivial Opera House, it was premiered there on December 24th, 1871, in a performance conducted by Giovanni Bottesini, although, due to a limited audience, Verdi considered the performance at La Scala in Milan on February 8th, 1872 to be the true premiere. While the Prelude to Act I of the tragic opera is a rather short work, Verdi had originally written a much longer SINFONIA which he ultimately rejected. This longer overture was discovered and performed by Arturo Toscanini in a 1940 performance. This version has been annotated and edited by Michael Kaye in this newly engraved edition based on the materials used by Toscanini. While ultimately rejected by the master composer, it offers an insight into his process and is a worthy addition to any program seeking a different approach to Verdi's music. Instrumentation: 2+1(Picc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1-2): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). |
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