The New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing, China) are pleased to announce that they will jointly stage the concert version of Verdi's opera Aida this summer to mark the fortieth anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. The collaborative performances aim to promote exchange in culture and the arts between the two nations by enhancing ties between the two national theatres during this commemorative year. The production has been approved as an official Japan event of the 2012 "Friendship Year for Japan-China People-To-People Exchanges."
The two theatres have long engaged in exchange activities for the improvement of theatre operation and production techniques with the aim of developing performing arts in Asia. As part of this exchange, the National Centre for the Performing Arts approached the NNTT approximately two years ago about jointly staging an opera as a symbol of Japan-China friendship in 2012, when the two nations would celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic ties. The NNTT proposed that the concert version of Aida be performed as a production to enhance exchange between the two nations'national theatres and choruses. This summer's productions are the fruit of much joint collaboration.
Japanese and Chinese artists are equally represented in the soloist lineup and the chorus. The title role will be performed by world-renowned soprano He Hui who has performed with such opera companies as the Wiener Staatsoper, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera. The famous baritone Yuan Chenye and bass Tian Hao Jiang are the other Chinese soloists. Radames will be played by Mizuguchi Satoshi who played the same role in the production of Aida held to mark the opening of the NNTT in 1998. Mezzo-soprano Shimizu Kasumi and bass Tsumaya Hidekazu, who have both established themselves through outstanding performances in many NNTT opera productions, will play the other key roles. The leading Japanese and Chinese soloists and joint performance of the fine choruses of the two theatres are sure to delight audiences with a feast of music that connects the two nations through the arts.
The performances will be held on 27 and 29 July at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, and on 3 and 5 August at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. The productions represent the first time for the NNTT to perform opera in China and the first time for the National Centre for the Performing Arts to perform in Japan.
You can find about the detail of opera Tokyo performances of Aida by clicking here.
The setting is ancient Egypt. Aida, princess of Ethiopia who was defeated in the war, is a captive and slave to the Egyptian princess Amneris, who does not know that Aida is the daughter of the Ethiopian king. Aida and Radames, captain of the Egyptian guard, secretly love each other, but Amneris also loves Radames. One day, Radames returns from a victorious campaign bringing with him many slaves, including Aida's father Amonasro. The Ethiopian king Amonasro sees his daughter again and convinces her to find out from Radames which route the Egyptian forces plan to take in the next war with Ethiopia. At night, Aida, in a rendezvous with Radames on the bank of the Nile, tries to persuade him to flee with her and extracts from him information about the operations of the Egyptian forces. Stunned to know of the enemy's plot, Radames surrenders himself and is placed under arrest. Amneris offers to plead for him if he marries her, but ultimately, he refuses to explain and is sentenced to death. As the walls of his burial chamber are sealed up, Radames discovers that Aida has concealed herself in the darkness. The lovers die quietly but at the same time attain eternal love.