Grand finale with the grand opera Aida and a new name for the Birgit Nilsson Days, which will be renamed the Birgit Nilsson Festival. On August 4-9, the festival runs, ending with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida in a spectacular open air concert at Båstad Tennis Stadium.
Båstad Tennis Stadium is not only the Nordic region’s largest outdoor arena for tennis. After the summer’s success with Verdi’s Masquerade Ball, it is also one of the Nordic countries’ largest outdoor stages for opera – with a specially built stage and for audiences in both the center court and stands.
– We are very happy that we can further develop our collaboration and not least create the conditions for a comprehensive experience for new target groups, locally, nationally and internationally. That’s what Ingrid Lövkrona, destination developer at S & E Backahill Destination Development, says.
– It is absolutely brilliant that we are now continuing to establish our collaboration which has already, both publicly and artistically, begun so successfully. That’s what Bengt Hall, artistic director of the Birgit Nilsson Festival says, and continues:
– With both powerful music and intimate scenes, mammoth choruses, the well-known and majestic triumphal march and even ballet, Aida is a perfect opera for first-time visitors.
Aida – one of Birgit Nilsson’s favorite roles – is performed by the celebrated soprano Joyce El-Khoury, who returns to Båstad for the fourth year in a row! As before, Helsingborg’s symphony orchestra and a choir with singers from Bjäre and Helsingborg participate. First and last under the direction of maestro Pier Giorgio Morandi, current at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Vienna Opera, and for the third year in a row in Båstad.
In addition to Aida, the festival includes the traditional scholarship concert in Västra Karup’s church, a six-day masterclass in front of an audience at the cultural center Ravinen at Norrviken’s gardens, and not least a content-rich program at the Birgit Nilsson Museum, which newly appointed CEO Elisabeth Boström will present shortly.
What: Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
Where: Båstad Tennis Stadium
When: 9 August at 7 pm
Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes incl. 45 min. Intermission
The tickets are sold via Julius Biljettservice Price categories: from 180 – 1085 sek
In leading roles
Aida: Joyce El-Khoury
Radamès: Martin Muehle
Amneris: Elizabeth DeShong
Amonasro: Fredrik Zetterström
Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra & Choirs Conductor: Pier Giorgio Morandi
Choreographer: Joakim Stephenson
Stage direction: Staffan Valdemar Holm
Audience reactions from Verdi’s Masquerade Ball, 10 August 2024 at the Tennis Stadium:
“Wonderful performance and a fantastic environment as well.”
A first time visitor
“Fantastic performance. I especially liked that the amplified sound sounded so good.”
Johannes Nebel, editor-in-chief Opus, magazine for classical music
“Such a high quality of all the singers… and Joyce El-Khoury is absolutely wonderful.”
Anneli Alhanko, court dancer & prima ballerina assoluta