Opera Aida performance takes place at Abu Simbel Temple
Twice a year, there is a dramatic solar alignment at the Abu Simbel temples near Aswan, during which the sun’s rays shine into the Temple of Ramses II and illuminate the statues of the great king and the gods of ancient Egypt that are housed there. The solar alignment, which is regarded as an example of ancient engineering, is scheduled to coincide with Ramses II’s birthday on February 22 and his coronation on October 22, respectively.
This February, one of the most famous operas in history will be highlighted by the sun’s radiance. The governor of Aswan stated that Aida, the renowned opera by Italian composer Guiseppe Verdi, will be presented in Abu Simbel as part of a cultural revival
The Khedivial Opera House, where the opera’s debut performance took place on December 24, 1871, commissioned the work. The plot, which is set in the Old Kingdom, centres on the sad courtship of Aida, a captive Ethiopian princess, and Radames, an Egyptian military leader. Since its debut, the opera has been staged in some of the world’s most illustrious venues.
