The Círculo del Liceo hosted the conference about the opera Aida by Giuseppe Verdi inside the Conference Cycle prior to the operas of the season 19/20 at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. The conference was given by Carlos Calderón, Dr. in Humanities, musician and historian.

The historic production, with sets by Mestres Cabanes, returns to the Liceu with Pirozzi, Margaine and Meade,

Aida as our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents saw it, set against the hyper-realist scenery designed in 1945 by the Catalan artist from Manresa, Josep Mestres Cabanes. This splendid creation of the great Catalan school of set design emphasizes the grandeur – and also the intimacy – of Verdi's third-before-last opera, remaining true to the historicist tradition without ever lapsing into kitsch.

In his tensely dramatic Aida, the 58-year-old Verdi displays his colossal strength and musical and theatrical savoir-faire to relate the love triangle that causes Aida, Amneris and Radamès to pursue their passion, love and hatred to the very last consequences. The background of Ancient Egypt –  the work was written to mark the opening of the Suez Canal – provides the excuse for the grandiose choral and symphonic scenes, which alternate with exquisite arias throughout the extensive score.

The Liceu debut of American soprano Angela Meade.