‘La jove Aïda’, an opera for children and young people with video game aesthetics
The Grand Theater of the Liceu and the Opera Foundation in Catalonia (FOC) premiere this weekend in Tarragona The young Aidaa new production designed for children and youth audiences who revisit the opera helpof Giuseppe Verdifrom a contemporary point of view and with a clear pedagogical vocation.
An opera with a retro-futuristic aesthetic
The dramaturgy and staging, signed by Jordi Casanovasexplore the boundaries between reality and fiction and place the action in a retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by the first video games. The musical reinterpretation is the work of Marian Marquezresponsible for the arrangements, adaptation and new compositions, with musical direction from Daniel Perpignan. The scenography, created by Onionlabopts for an audiovisual and technological device that dialogues with the digital universe and pays tribute to the mythical scenographies of Josep Mestres Cabanes for thehelp from the Liceu of 1945.
The young Aida tells the story of Aina, a young video game developer who creates a virtual world inspired by Verdi’s opera to present it at an international virtual reality congress at the same Liceu. A technical error leaves her trapped in this universe, where she assumes the role of Aida and discovers that the fiction is built from her own memories, desires and fears. The story presents a learning journey that reflects on control, imperfection and the blurred boundaries between reality and fiction.
The music maintains the essence of the original opera with recognizable fragments like Celeste Aida, Come on, darlingthe Marcia triumphal or Glory to Egyptwhile incorporating adaptations and new compositions with a pedagogical and contemporary approach. The proposal musically differentiates the virtual world – where Verdi is reinterpreted with a current language – from the real world, with more contemporary sounds that dialogue with the original motifs.
The cast is headed by the soprano Rosa Maria Abellawho plays Aina/Aïda; the baritone Joan Garcia-Gomà (Ramon/Amonasro); the tenor Arnau Torres (Radamès) and the mezzo-soprano Yasmin Forastiero (Amneris). The instrumental interpretation is performed by an ensemble of theVallès Symphony Orchestra.
He will arrive at the Liceu in the 26/27 season
The tour of The young Aida this year it will pass through Sant Cugat and Tarragona, and will continue next season in Cornellà, Girona and Figueres, within the network of Opera theaters in Catalonia.
The proposal, conceived by the Liceu and developed in collaboration with the FOC, is accompanied by a broad and transversal educational project through the program Lyceum Learnbuilt together with the cultural agents of the municipalities hosting the show. The aim is to bring opera closer to new generations and generate new opportunities for access to culture throughout the territory. The premiere of the show is part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary ofThe Little Lyceum.
