Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan said that preparation works for staging Aida opera by Giuseppe Verdi started in 2010 at the initiative of the Ministry.

Through the assistance of Italian Ambassador to Armenia Bruno Scapini, Italian stage director Mario Corradi, whose performances are included in programs of the beset theaters in the world, was invited to Armenia, Poghosyan told a press conference on December 22.

The Minister noted that the project implementation would be impossible without the support of VivaCell-MTS mobile operator, Electric Networks of Armenia, RosGosStrakh-Armenia, Converse bank, as well as Italian embassy in Armenia and Ambassador Bruno Scapini.

According to Italian stage director Mario Corradi, the Minister of Culture was rather interested in the project. “Poghosyan was often present at rehearsals. I have worked at almost all continents, but I observe such interest of the Ministry for the first time,” said Corradi.

ArtTim production center is the producer of this large-scale initiative. 300 actors are involved in the performance, over 400 costumes are used in it.

Aida is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Chislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. Aida was first performed at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on December 24, 1871, conducted by Giovanni Bottesini.