Aida Revival at the Paris Opera
This fall, the Paris Opera revived a production of Aida originally staged at the 2017 Salzburg Festival. The production, created by Iranian visual artist and director Shirin Neshat, surprised many who had seen it earlier. It marked the soprano Anna Netrebko's debut in the role of Aida, with Riccardo Muti conducting.
Shirin Neshat's Directorial Debut
Despite her impressive background in visual arts, photography, and film, Neshat had no previous opera directing experience. This production was a challenging first step for her in the opera world. Film played an important role, featuring black-and-white footage of migrants, mostly women in somber clothing by the sea. These sequences sometimes felt tentative and somewhat detached from the main drama.
Production Style and Reception
The staging reflected Muti's preference against radical reinterpretations, but Neshat's traditional approach to the principals—having them stand and sing—limited its impact. The Salzburg Festival revived this production in 2022 with reported changes, while the Paris Opera’s revival allowed Neshat to present her vision more fully.
Political and Cultural Parallels
Neshat, an advocate for women's rights, drew parallels between the opera's priests—dressed with flowing ayatollah-style beards—and the strict theocrats of her native country. This comparison intensified the portrayal of violence within the opera.
“Parallels between the opera’s priests—decked out with flowing, ayatollah-style beards—and the hardline theocrats of her estranged country made the opera’s violence more pronounced.”
Overall, the revival balanced a conservative musical direction with Neshat's evocative visual and political commentary.
Author's Summary
Shirin Neshat’s Aida revival at the Paris Opera blends conservative staging with poignant political symbolism, highlighting the opera’s darker themes through her unique visual narrative.
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