Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateNEW YORK (AP) — Sonja Frisell was a 9-year-old growing up in England when she saw still photos of “Caesar and Cleopatra,” a 1945 movie starring Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains. So began the path to her lavish staging of Verdi’s “Aida,” the second-most performed production in the Metropolitan Opera’s 140-year history. The company was planning a new Franco Zeffirelli production to open in 1988 and be financed by Sybil B. Harrington. “The audience’s natural concern might be after seeing the spectacle of this `Aida’ what’s in store for them in the next `Aida,‘” Met general manager Peter Gelb said. “I don’t expect anybody to remember the name Sonja Frisell in 100 years,” she said, “but I’m quite sure Verdi and Mozart will be remembered.”

Source: Ethiopian News May 16, 2023 16:54 UTC