Anita Rachvelishvili, George Gagnidze in Metropolitan Opera cast for 'Aida'
The Met Opera production by Sonja Frisell comes in four acts and will run in a bill spanning to May. Photo via Metropolitan Opera
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New York City's major Metropolitan Opera venue is gearing up for a bill of the timeless classic Aida, with mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili and baritone George Gagnidze in the cast for the Sonja Frisell production opening next month.
Under the baton of Paolo Carignani, the two Georgian opera stars will take to the stage in several shows of the bill that will run between December and May. Rachvelishvili will alternate the role of Amneris with Olesya Petrova, with Gagnidze and Quinn Kelsey picked for bringing the character of Amonasro to the production.
They will be joined by Latonia Moore and Michelle Bradley as Aida, while Brian Jagde and Marcelo Alvarez will be cast in the role of Radames, as the four-act, double-intermission staging of the Verdi classic proceeds in the celebrated hall of the theatre.
The Frisell production involves costumes by Dada Saligeri, sets by Gianni Quaranta and lighting by Gil Wechsler, while Alexei Ratmansky contributes through choreography.
Rachvelishvili in the role of Amneris in the 2018-2019 season bill of 'Aida' at the Metropolitan Opera:
Gagnidze said in a social media post he was "[v]ery happy to bring my Amonasro in Aida to the Metropolitan Opera again", as the venue marked 136 years since the first show of the opera at the venue on Sunday. The baritone launched his 2022 season in the Metropolitan Opera bills of Tosca and will be back at the theatre again for closing shows of the year.
On her part, Rachvelishvili has received acclaim for her appearances as Amneris at major international theatres. She was hailed for a "rock-star performance" in a Chicago Symphony Orchestra show of the opera in 2019 and was cast in the role at Vienna State Opera, Teatro Regio in Turin and other venues.
The two Georgian singers have other commitments in this season's Met Opera calendar, with Gagnidze performing in a Tosca bill launched last month and running through April, and Rachvelishvili appearing in Don Carlo until December 3.
The Aida bill will run between December 2-May 18 at the New York venue.
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