We arrived there a little early with the intention of touring the Ministry of Egyptian Modern Arts building, which shared the manicured compound of the Cairo Opera House. I had wanted to see the art work inside, but it was not meant to be that evening because it was closed by the time we arrived. I did admire the tower-like minaret behind it. At night it lit up brightly like a bejeweled Christmas tree. It was truly beautiful! During prayers, the minaret is one of many that amplifies chants from the Qur'an (Islamic Holy Book) that is heard widely throughout Cairo.
We spent the remaining time walking leisurely on the well-kept lawn, and admiring the exhibited art work.
And then we hurried to the opera house across the way to find our seats!
Overall, Aida was fantastic! The pharoanic costumes and set designs were brilliant, and the singing was superb as it swept the audience through 4 dramatic acts. In true operatic fashion, "Aida" was sung in Italian, but I was able to follow it fairly well. Thankfully, I read the storyline beforehand! "Aida" was an ill-fated love story set in ancient Egypt about a pharoanic military commander and a captured Ethiopian slave girl. Unbeknownst to the military commander and pharoah (Egyptian king), the slave girl Aida was the daughter of the king of Ethiopia who was warring against Egypt. Events became more dramatic when pharoah promised his own daughter's hand in marriage to the military commander. Already in love with Aida, who returned his love passionately, he betrayed his country by helping her escape. He eventually was captured and sealed in a vaulted tomb alive. Thinking that Aida was safely back with her father, he was surprised to discover that she had hidden herself in the tomb to die with him. The opera ended with the lovers dying in each other's embrace amid operatic arias and intense orchestral music. Truly a powerful ending!
