Tutankhamun Opera

Important is it for one to dream, and it is beautiful that the dream comes true. I dreamed with writing an opera about Tutankhamun to be performed during the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the tomb of King Tutankhamun discovery.

I chose the name of Tutankhamun because he is the most famous king in the ancient and modern world;  because the opera characters are also famous, such as Nefertiti, her daughter Ankh S. N. Amun, the priest I, and Egypt's military hero Hor Moheb.

I found it difficult to get in touch with all the history because history is written and never informed us about how those people feel, especially as they were humans just like us; they can do right things but also can make mistakes.

I found that the opera Aida was made 148 years ago on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal, and it was composed by the French Egyptologist Mariette Pasha and Italian musician Verdi. Mariette Pasha presented a story of fiction, which does not relate to Pharaonic history.

But, this time, I chose a true character from our great history, with the addition of untold events about the history of Tutankhamun. I contacted the writer Francesco SantaCono to translate the opera into Italian. Afterwards, I met the young musician Lino Zamboni.

Before writing the opera, I was always thinking about the events of this great work. This is my habit before I write, to think until the moment I start to tell the story. When I sat down to write, I found that there were many scenes I would talk about here.

Firstly, the events of Tutankhamun birth when his father Akhenaten named him Tutankhamun. His name means "the living image of the god Aten. He was born to a woman who married to Akhenaten after Queen Nefertiti.

Queen Nefertiti had six daughters, and never had a boy, so she was angered by the birth of this child, who would become king of Egypt. She, accordingly, called in an evil priest who told her: "The child must be killed but will not be killed by an Egyptian, and I will send a message to the King of Kush to kill the child." Indeed, it was an opportunity for the enemy of Egypt to send a small team to kill the child at then capital "Tel-Amarna" (located in Minya currently), but Egypt's brave military commander Hor Moheb killed the enemies and saved the child.

Another scene indicates that Nefertiti came to power after Akhenaten's death, but was poisoned by a woman in the harem. There is a scene of the coronation of King Tutankhamun. Another scene shows King Tut's victory over King of Kush and his victorious return.

The musician "Zamboni" made a spectacular work of the music of victory, which is one of the most innovative music that has been shown so far. There is another scene of the death of King Tutankhamun.

The first press conference was held in Vienna to announce the making of the new opera. The first scene was shown. The opera was performed by "Susanna Yergas", the most famous opera singer in Italy.

She will play Nefertiti along with singer Roberto, who will be the priest "Ono." Another press conference will be held in New York City in December and will be followed by another one in Egypt , when Dr. Magdy Saber,

President of the Egyptian Opera House will will announce that the opera of Tutankhamun is about an Egyptian-Italian cooperation. He will take part in this performance by players and orchestra. Finally, the dream came true. Thanks God.