Opera Is in da House

On the banks of the Nile sits the Ethiopian princess Aida. Enslaved by the Pharaoh, she longs in song for home and for her captor’s military commander, with whom she has fallen in love. Thus begins Verdi’s Aida. The popular opera has lent its “Grand March” to Europe’s football chants as well as Chumbawamba’s song “Top of the World (Ole, Ole, Ole).”
This season the Florida Grand Opera debuts with a new version of Aida, which will christen the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. No, it’s not the Disney-fied adaptation; this one is in Italian. The most exciting part of the performance is hearing Angela Brown, the soprano cast as Aida. “Aida is a role that I am very comfortable singing. I love the pomp and circumstance of the whole opera,” says Brown. Tickets range from $10 to $200. Showtime is 8:00 p.m. The production opens October 28 and runs through November 30. Call 800-741-1010, or visit www.fgo.org for a complete schedule.
Sat., Oct. 28, 7 p.m.; Wed., Nov. 1, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 4, 8 p.m.; Tue., Nov. 7, 8 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 10, 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 12, 2 p.m.; Thu., Nov. 16, 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 19, 2 p.m.; Wed., Nov. 22, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 25, 8 p.m.; Tue., Nov. 28, 8 p.m.; Thu., Nov. 30, 8 p.m.