The project marks the first collaboration between the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Fundació Òpera a Catalunya, aiming to bring the classic genre closer to new spectators. The adaptation features a young video game creator heroine, named Aina, who enters a virtual reality she created to overcome challenges, while maintaining key themes of the original work such as betrayal and honor.
“"There is a game between reality and fiction around how we enter and how we get involved in stories that is very present for young spectators, whether they watch cartoons, movies, read books or comics. From there we can explain more complex issues like those found in classic works such as 'Aïda'."
Music is a core pillar of the readaptation, combining classic “hits” with more modern sounds and electronic music fragments. Seven musicians perform the composition live. A particularity highlighted by musical director Daniel Perpiñà is the absence of a conductor guiding the performers.
The set design draws inspiration from the legendary proposal made by Josep Mestres Cabanes in 1945 for the Liceu, creating a parallel with his work through videos inspired by the world of video games. This staging, which only requires six hours of assembly, ensures that all theaters on the tour maintain the same essence.
The premiere in Tarragona, which spanned two days, engaged over 700 primary school students and music school students who had prepared the work beforehand in classrooms. Following the capital of Tarragonès, La jove Aïda will be performed in Sant Cugat, Girona, Cornellà de Llobregat, and Figueres before arriving at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in October.
“"If just one of the young people who participated has had a spark ignited for art, culture, creation, creativity, opera, or classical music, it will have been more than satisfactory and more than welcome."
