' If anyone had said to me two years ago " You are (roing to write an opera for Cairo " I'd have said he was mad - but now, just look, it's me who's mad after all.'
The first performance of Aida, for the opening of the Cairo Opera House, was held up until 24 December 1871 by the Franco-Prussian war. This programme tells the story of the opera's composition, perhaps the greatest piece d'occasion of modern times, and of the thought which Verdi gave to the libretto and to the Egyptian background of the story. David Buck as Verdi Brian Hewlett as his librettist,
Ghislanzoni GERALD CROSS and EDWARD KELSEY Narrated by DUNCAN MCINTYRE Compiled bY MICHAEL ROSE and HANNS HAM.MELMANN
Producer HALLAM TENNYSON with excerpts from a recording of the opera, featuring
RENATA TEBALDI. CARLO BERGONZI and GIULIETTA SIMIONATO conducted by HERBERT VON KARAJAN followed by an interlude