The Toledo Opera's new production of Aida, which opened last night in the Valentine Theatre, delivers an impressive balance of spectacle and intimacy, with a Pharaoh's treasury of powerful singing, abundant and convincing drama, and plenty of color and action.

The Valentine stage literally bursts with life from the opening scene to the final tragic denouement.

Gazing beneficently over nearly all the action is Roberto Oswald's monumental Sphinx head, a silent yet imposing presence that suggests the timeless elements in this enduring tale.

Aida was a huge, ambitious project to undertake at such a crucial time in the local company's history. Yet survivors of all stripes understand that taking on a risky endeavor is sometimes necessary to prove healing has occurred.

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Source: http://www.toledoblade.com