Aida - the dazzling opera on Sydney Harbour

Aida is the fourth Handa Opera on the Harbour (the first being staged in 2012). These outdoor operas have become so popular that this years season has been extended to four weeks, with the last performance being held on 26 April.

Aida is an extraordinary production that dazzles all the senses as you sit seeing all that is going on stage, with the lights of the city, Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the background. Aida costs a lot of money to put on. More than $10 million in funding has been given by Destination NSW and Handa, a Japanese businessman. Once you see the costumes, the sets, and just appreciate the logistics of staging this lavish opera in the outdoors you will understand why production costs are high.

Aida is performed on a purpose built floating stage on Sydney Harbour, with the grandstand seating on Mrs Macquarie's Point. The orchestra is housed above the water and below the sloping floor of the stage. 

Aida is all about war, devotion and love. Amidst the struggle of Egypt invading Ethiopia, there is a love triangle between the Egyptian military commander Radames,  Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris, and Aida, an Ethiopian slave. All the main characters have wonderful voices. Some of these performers are world famous opera stars, and others are newer to opera. It amazes me that they keep on singing throughout the entire show and still have any voice left, as Aida is entirely made up of singing and no spoken dialogue. The chorus singing in Italian is amazing with wonderful depth to it. It reminds me of those times I listen to a Male Welsh Choir singing in Welsh - I can not understand the words but appreciate the blending of the voices together. 

The standout feature of Aida is the lavish costumes. There are more than 300 costumes and 2,000 pieces of jewellery. The wigs and elaborate headpieces are exceptional. The costumes span a vast period of time, from ancient to modern times. For example, some of the soldiers look as though they come from ancient Egypt, some look like they are in a French Foreign Legion, some in their black suits look like they are the security guards of todays celebrities, and some in their skin tight shiny leather pants look like they would be more at home in the Mardi Gras Parade. The women wear a wide variety of costumes. Some are scantily clad in bikinis. Some wear huge petticoated hoop dresses. Some look like they are going to a grand ball, the Melbourne Cup, or to Fashion Week. They all look stunning.

The gold, shiny and glittering costumes make each of the performers stand out as they sing, dance and act on stage. For example, a cloak worn by Amneris has more than 5000 rectangular sequins stitched onto it. The lights shining on the costumes bedecked with sequins dazzle the eyes and make the production of Aida stunning. The costumes have to be weatherproof. As there is no roof over the stage, they need to cope with the occasions when it rains and they get wet. Fortunately the night I saw Aida it did not rain, it was just a pleasant autumn evening.

The talented Mark Robinson designed both the costumes and the set.

The set is dominated by the 18 metre tall, 15 tonne head of Queen Nefertiti. It has one eye missing and looks like an ancient statue eroded by the ravages of time, but comes to life with the interplay of coloured lights projected on it.

Tony David Cray's sound design more than adequately projects the quieter and boisterous moments of   the Opera. All sections of the audience can clearly hear the orchestra and singers with the wonderful sound amplification in this unusual outdoor setting.

The orchestra, conducted by Brian Castles-Onion, masters all its soft flute and harp moments, and its loud brass numbers. (It was good to see the orchestra members and stage crew come on stage at the closing curtain call.)

Aida is performed in Italian, but don't let this put you off seeing it if you do not speak Italian. English translations of the song lyrics are shown below the stage. These are not like the sub-tiltes of foreign movies on TV, where you are so busy reading you have no time to see the action. Each song in Aida has only a few key lines displayed, so your eyes are mainly focussed on the stage and not the words on the screens.

I must point out that I am not an experienced opera goer, but I really loved seeing this performance of Aida. It was not just an opera - it was an all encompassing experience of enjoying a spectacular production on the iconic setting of Sydney Harbour. The music, singing, dancing, costumes, lighting, smoke, fire, camels and fireworks all contributed to a wonderful night out. 

I liked the first half of the show before intermission better than the second half. This was where the pomp and pageantry occurred, and he chorus singing and dancing featured. The Triumphal March was a standout - or perhaps it was just that I recognised the tune. On the other hand, my wife liked the second half better, as she felt the solo and duet singing by the main characters stood out more. I just felt that the opera slowed down a notch as the key characters were coming to grips with their death.

If you have never been to an opera inside the Sydney Opera House, Aida will be a perfect introduction to this theatre genre. Aida is on until April 26, so you need to be quick to book your seats if you would like to see it. Each performance commences at 7.30pm, but arrive early to enjoy the pre-show eating and drinking available as you watch the sun set over the harbour.

Tickets cost from $79-$299, depending on where the seat is located. The usual rule is that the higher the price of the ticket the more central the seat is with better viewing. I had a seat in the prime viewing section D which gave a wonderful view of the stage. I was curious about what sort of view the cheapest seats provided, so for half of the show I swapped seats to one in section H on the far left side of the stage. This was still a good seat, with an angled view to the stage. All action on the stage was still visible, as there are no side walls to obstruct the view. The sound amplification was still perfect. 

Aida, Handa Opera on the Harbour

For more information or bookings phone 9250 7777 or go the website opera.org.au