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AidaOpera and Ballet InternationalGrand Theatre, Wolverhampton***** A CAST of top class international stars featured in this memorable production of Verdi’s classic opera telling the story of love, jealousy and warring nations. The one-nighter was another triumph for producer-director Ellen Kent who has made such an important impact with touring operas, and this new, spectacular version of Aida ticked all the boxes. The leads sang superbly and – not always the case in operas – also looked the part, with a particularly impressive contribution from additional extras and UK opera singers who joined the company for this performance, along with students from Theatre Workshop, Birmingham. Some of the finest scenery and costumes I have seen for this particular story enhanced the pleasure and increased realism in the dramatic tale of the doomed love between Radames, heroic captain of the Egyptian army, and the beautiful, Aida, captured from the Ethiopian enemy and made a slave for Amneris, daughter of the King of Egypt. French soprano Olga Perrier was a delight as Aida, actually the daughter of Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, who is tricked into revealing her love for Radames by the jealous Amneris. Spanish tenor Giorgi Meladze excelled in the role of Radames, eventually facing the threat of being buried alive despite leading his troops to victory, his love for Aida leading to a lethal clash of loyalties. Liza Kadelnik (Amneris), Vadym Chernihovskyi (High Priest Ramfis), Oleksandr Forkushak (King of Egypt) and Iurie Gisca (Amonasro) all performed perfectly, as did the orchestra conducted by Vasyl Vasylenko and skilful fire spinner Andy Wakeford. Paul Marston
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