Photo: Still from Magic Arena
Magic Arena... and indeed it is!
The magical world of the performing arts is captured in the documentary by Andrea Prandstraller, an Italian award winning filmmaker and Niccolò Bruna.
What adds to the magical experience is the fact that the producers chose Egypt to give the world premiere for their movie.
Screened within the 36th annual Cairo International Film Festival, Magic Arena opened on Wednesday 12 November at the Cairo Opera House's main hall.
During the 90 minutes, the viewers are invited to visit Arena di Verona, an open air historical location and the biggest opera theatre in the world. As we explore the architectural beauty and the theatre's backstage, we follow the production process of opera Aida which premiered on 14 July 2013.
The production celebrated the centenary of Verona opera's festival and paralleled the world celebrations of Giuseppe Verdi's (1813-1901) birth bicentennial.
Magic Arena is an opportunity to explore behind the scenes, meet the artists, technicians, the support personnel and the hundreds of others involved in Aida's production. While capturing the process of making art, we see the passion and the unconditional dedication of everyone on the set. The movie is suitable for all audiences.
Opera singers, directors, scenographers, orchestra musicians, dancers and light designers alike will enjoy the professionalism and artistic tools that the directors captured in the documentary.
Regular audiences and opera lovers have an opportunity to visit backstage of the famed venue to understand the invisible side of the art world, its unique dynamics and the creative vocabulary that materialises ideas into the most remarkable performances.
While revealing many secrets of the performing arts' backstage and by creating the beautiful balance between the opera's story and making of this production, the filmmakers do not spoil the actual performance that opened in July 2013.
Nonetheless, the captivating journey and the world premiere pulled in a small audience, perhaps the second screening will attract better attention to the important documentary.
The film will be screened in El-Hadara 2 hall, Thursday 13 November at 6pm.
Entry with badges.
Check the festival's complete programme and Ahram Online's recommendations
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