A look back at “Aida”, 20 years ago at Opera Grand Rapids
Ten thousand patrons, 350 choristers, 16 horses, four elephants, and one unequivocally epic spectacle 20 years ago all came together in what is still the most ambitious production ever staged by Opera Grand Rapids.
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The Opera Grand Rapids production of “Aida,” on September 20, 1997, was a spectacle in the spirit of the ancient Egyptian court it portrayed. Much like the grandest celebrations of the Old World, “Aida” featured hundreds of singers, lavish costumes, a tiger, elephants, and a colossal audience. It remains the most ambitious production ever staged by Opera Grand Rapids. With so many moving parts, every facet was bound to be epic. Before the evening was over, a wide cast of characters—some of whom were not part of the company—would play their parts, including a police escort and a stubborn tiger that wouldn’t come out of its cage.
Kyle Irwin discusses the excitement and challenges of bringing Aida to Van Andel Arena.
Imagine it: Before the sold-out crowd of 10,000 arrived that night, 30 wig and makeup assistants attend to eight principal singers and 150 extras. Weaving through the organized chaos of the dressing rooms are 12 wardrobe assistants and three stitchers. Golf carts ferry around personnel, speaker cabinets, microphones, and spools of wiring, pulling up alongside chariots parked in the wings. Three lighting supervisors stand in a nervous cluster over an expanse of dimmers and switches; they put hundreds of luminaries through their paces, creating brief, bright blooms of color on the stage.
Bits of sound bubble from the 54 speaker cabinets stowed in every conceivable space. The eight subwoofers mumble thunderously. The scene is a storm of chatter, floating clouds of makeup powder, flashing lights, and fragments of sound coming from every direction. Yet everyone knows their places. By showtime, the maelstrom has been bridled, and eager thousands are transported to a King’s hall in ancient Memphis.
This isn’t to say everything went off without a hitch. For better or worse, “Aida” brought a measure of the suspense and courtly intrigue of its source material to Van Andel Arena that night.
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This story is part of a series of 50 stories we are releasing to commemorate 50 years of opera in West Michigan. Browse more stories and follow our journey throughout the season here.
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