Opéra Bastille: Verdi's Aida in a contemporary staging

Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida will be staged at the Opéra Bastille from September 24 to November 4, 2025. Directed by Shirin Neshat, this is a poignant retelling of an impossible love story set against a backdrop of war and fanaticism.

A monumental work in the operatic repertoire, Giuseppe Verdi 's Aida will return to theOpéra Bastille in autumn 2025 in a new production by Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat. From September 24 to November 4, 2025, this intimate, political drama will be presented in Italian, with French and English surtitles, for a total running time of 3h05 with intermission. An opportunity to rediscover a 19th-century masterpiece through a contemporary prism.

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Between patriotic duty and forbidden passion, Aida depicts the tragic destiny of an Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt. She is in love with Radamès, an Egyptian general promised to the pharaoh's daughter Amneris, who is herself jealous of the love between the two lovers. When Radames betrays a military secret for love, he seals his fate and that of Aida. This story with universal overtones is carried by a score that alternates spectacular scenes, such as the famous triumphal march, with intimate arias, like Celeste Aida.

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This production would appeal to fans ofclassical opera, but also to those attracted by a contemporary staging offering a critical reading of the mechanisms of power and submission. The vision of Shirin Neshat, known for her artistic commitment to the status of women, would highlight the violence of religious fanaticism and the dynamics of oppression. The show could appeal to audiences curious to combine strong visual aesthetics with a political reading of a lyrical myth. On the other hand, purists of historical setting or tradition might be challenged by the modernity of the treatment.

With Aida,Opéra Bastille offers a major operatic event where Verdi meets Shirin Neshat's committed aesthetic. Between historical fresco, tragic passion and contemporary interpretation, this new production would offer a renewed vision of a timeless grand opera, to be discovered from September 24 to November 4, 2025.

This article is based on information available prior to the show. It is not based on direct viewing experience.

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