It’s difficult not to feel awed and inspired while you are traveling along the winding roads on the banks of the Dead Sea, en route to Masada. The hills, caves, and shadows of the Judean desert are simply captivating. As the sun sets and the stars make their first appearance, it is easy to feel as if you are going back in time.
Arriving at Masada, the atmosphere is of great anticipation. Verdi’s “Aida” is set in ancient Egypt, and for this kind of production no location (barring the actual land of Egypt, perhaps) is more appropriate than the deserts of Judea. No opera house of any magnitude or technical ability could possibly compete with the simple beauty of the great outdoors and starry night skies.
Over the past few weeks, thousands of tons of lighting and sound equipment from Israel and overseas have been transported to Masada, in order to set the stage for one of this year’s most celebrated and unique productions. A cast of hundreds (including eleven camels) has been assembled for this performance, and an enlarged seating area has been erected in order to seat 7700 people.
The foyer is spacious, beautifully lit, and, keeping in tune with the theme of “Aida”, magnificently decorated in the style of ancient Egypt. There are also stands and kitchen areas offering food and drink, maintained by a staff of 200 waiters.
The stage itself is very impressive, with its two giant obelisks at each end measuring over 20 meters high and 10 meters wide. In the background left of the stage, Masada itself seems to play a role in Verdi’s epic, and through a system of well designed lighting manages to become a real part of the performance, much like any other member of the cast.
This production of the Israeli Opera is part of the second Opera Festival in Masada and Jerusalem, taking place from June 1-12, 2011. Participating in this event are the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, the Israeli Opera Chorus and hundreds of dancers and extras, directed by Charles Roubaud and conducted by Daniel Oren.
The performance runs approximately three hours and 20 minutes (including a single intermission.) Throughout the performance, Hebrew and English translations of the text are available for viewing on four large monitors.
When thinking of the Romantic composers and their operas, the words “epic” and “monumental” come to mind. Verdi’s “Aida” at the foot of Masada certainly lives up to those titles, and succeeds in delivering a unique cultural experience that stays with you long after you have left your seat.
Further details and ticket purchasing information is available on the Israeli Opera Festival website.
