"Aida" opera costume paintings, 1870

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

No known copyright. The Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries believes that this collection is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. (See https://rightsstatements.org/page/NKC/1.0/?language=en)

Preferred citation:

"Aida" opera costume paintings, C0473, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
.01 Linear Feet 7 paintings
Creator:
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Abstract:
Seven pen and watercolor paintings on paper of character and chorus member costume designs for the opera "Aida," circa early 1870s.
Language:
French
Preferred citation:

"Aida" opera costume paintings, C0473, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Seven pen and watercolor paintings on paper of character and chorus member costume designs for the opera "Aida," made circa early 1870s. Featured are Radames in Act I, Scene 1 and Act II, Scene 4; Ax-bearers from Act II, Scene 4; Officers of the chorus, Act I, Scene 1 and Act II, Scene 4; Amneris in Act II, Scene 4; and The King, Act II, Scene 4 and Act I, Scene 1. Notably absent are the roles of Aida, Amonasro, and Ramfis. Each painting has the name of the role written in pen on the lower left corner and the act and scene numbers on the bottom right corner. The main roles have the voice range written next to the role name. All text is written in French.

Biographical / historical:

"Aida" is a four-act opera by Giuseppe Verde that premiered in 1871. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt and sung in Italian, it tells the story of an enslaved Ethiopian princess, the titular Aida, who is brought to the Egyptian court. Unbeknownst to the court, the Egyptian military commander Radames is in love with Aida, who also returns his love. Throughout the opera the couple struggles to assert their love, while also honoring their respective countries and dealing with the war that ensues between Egypt and Ethiopia. "Aida" was immensely popular when it premiered and is still considered one of the most beloved operas today.

"Aida" has a performance history of brown and blackface, with white singers often performing characters of another race. This occurred as recently as early 2020, though there has been more effort in the opera world to cast racially appropriate singers in these roles, particularly that of Aida.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by Steve Gerber from J J Lubrano Music Antiquarians in September 2016.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in March 2021. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in March 2021. This item was formerly part of the Performing Arts Manuscript Materials collection, C0215.

Arrangement:

This is a single folder collection.

Physical location:
R 72, C 3, S 5
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard