Thoughts on Aida — Page 2

Dollypop, an opera lover who can't spell Verdi's name?

Moatsart; I laughed SO hard at that!
Mallardo, I completely agree with your thoughts on the show, far better score than Billy Elliot; it is just gorgeous the music. Mallardo, we can get along I imagine, agreeing on so much lately!

But I love the show, unfortunately living in the UK I've never seen it, but I love the score and the story and have some very legal DVDs, from that I think the design is gorgeous. However Idina Menzel was a disappointment.

Her Every Story is a Love Story was the dullest thing I have ever seen, particularly the end. She walks off as if she is about to go for a fag that she's been craving all through the song. Shame. But the design to this show and the choreography are absolutely sensational, and I do love the show, despite a weak book, it somehow works.

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I saw most of the different Aidas on Broadway and enjoyed the show every time (my favorite was Michelle Williams, but only because she had vocal chops and actually played Aida's more vulnerable moments with some, you know, vulnerability). If you have the right cast, it can help you gloss over some of the more questionable aspects of the show. And by the right cast, I mean three leads who can sing their asses off.

Then I music directed the show. I discovered a lot to love and a lot to hate when working that closely with the score. There are some arrangements that just make no sense but some moments that are far more complex and meaningful than I ever imagined. Then I was told "cut the songs to match the CD" and "we don't need the underscoring" and was left with crap.