Aida

See also: AIDA, an acronym used in marketing; there is also a town and district in Japan called Aida.

Aida is an Italian opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was written Antonio Ghislanzoni. It was first performed at Cairo on December 24, 1871.

Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, commissioned Verdi to write the opera to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, paying him 80,000 francs, but the premier was delayed because of Franco-Prussian War. The opera was met with great acclaim and continues to be a staple of the standard operatic repertoire. There are many recordings of it, and it is frequently performed.

Plot synopsis

Aida, an Ethiopian princess, is captured into slavery in Egypt. A military commander, Radames, struggles to choose between his love for her, his loyalty to the Pharaoh. To complicate the story further, Radames is loved by the Pharaoh's daughter Amneris, although he does not return the feeling.

Characters

Aida, an Ethiopian slave, soprano

The King of Egypt, bass

Amneris, Daughter of the King, mezzo-soprano

Rhadames, Captain of the Guard, tenor

Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, baritone

Ramfis, High Priest, bass

A messenger, tenor

*Priests, priestesses, ministers, captains, soldiers, officials, Ethiopians, slaves and prisoners, Egyptians, etc.

ACT I

Scene I: A hall in the king's palace; through the rear gate the pyramids and temples of Memphis are seen.

Aida, the daughter of the Ethiopian King Amonasro, lives at Memphis as a slave. Her Egyptian captors are unaware of her true identity. Her father has made an incursion into Egypt to deliver her from servitude. But since her capture, Aida has fallen in love with Radames, a young warrior (Romanza, Radames: "Heavenly Aīda"). She has a dangerous rival in Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian king. (Duet, Radames, Amneris: "In thy visage I trace.") Incited by Amneris, the high priest Ramfis (Terzett, Aida, Amneris, Radames: "Oh fate o'er Egypt looming") declares that Radames has been selected by Isis to be the leader of the army against Amonasro. (Battle Hymn: "On ! Of Nilus' sacred river, guard the shores.") Aida's heart is torn between her love for her father and for Radames. (Scene, Aīda: "Return a conqueror.")

Scene II: Temple of Vulcan. In the center an altar illuminated by a mysterious light from above.

Solemn ceremonies and dance of priestesses. (Chorus of priestesses: "O mighty Ptha.") Installation of Radames to the office of commander-in-chief. (Prayer, Ramfis and chorus: "O mighty one, guard and protect!")

ACT II

Scene I: A hall in Amneris' apartment.

Amneris' chamber. Festal dances and music. (Chorus of women: "Our songs his glory praising.") Amneris receives her slave Aida and cunningly tricks her into professing her love for Ramades by lying and declaring that Ramades has fallen in battle. Aida's distress upon hearing this news betrays her love of Ramades. (Scene and duet, Amneris, Aida: "The chances of war afflict thy people, poor Aida;" Aida: "O love, O joy tormenting.")

Scene II: Outside the city walls at the grand Gate of Thebes.

Radames returns victorious. (Chorus, king and people: "Glory to Egypt, to Isis!") Grand triumphal march. The Egyptian king decrees that on this day the triumphant Ramades may have anything he wishes. The Ehtiopian captives are marched in. Amonasro appears among them. Aida immediately rushes to her father, but their true identities are still unknown to the Egyptians. Amonasro declares that the Ethiopian king has been slain in battle. (Amonasro: "This my garment has told you already.") Out of his love for Aida, Ramades uses the King's grant to release the prisoners. The grateful King of Egypt declares him his successor and the betrothed of his daughter. Aida and Amonasro remain as hostages to ensure that the Ethiopians do not avenge their defeat.

ACT III.

Scene: On the banks of the Nile, near the temple of Isis.

(Chorus of priests and priestesses: "O thou who to Osiris art!") Amonasro and Aida are held as hostages (Aria, Aida: "Oh, my dear country!") and he forces her to learn from Radames the position of the Egyptian army. (Duet, Aida, Amonasro: "Once again shalt thou gaze.") Radames only seemingly consents to become the husband of Amneris, and is persuaded through love for Aida to give her the information required by her father. (Duet, Radames, Aida: "Again I see thee.") When Amonasro reveals his identity and flees with Aida. the despairing Radames allows himself to be taken prisoner. (Terzett, Amonasro, Aida, Radames: "I am dishonoured.")

ACT IV.

Scene 1: A hall in the Temple of Justice. To one side is the door leading to Rhadames' prison cell.

Amneris (Scene, Amneris: "My hated rival has escaped me") desires to save Radames, but he repulses her (Duet, Amneris, Radames: "Now to the hall the priests proceed"), and is condemned to death. The sentence is that he shall be buried alive. (Judgment scene, Amneris, Ramfis and chorus: "Heavenly spirit, descend.")

Scene II: The lower portion of the stage shows the burial place in the temple of Vulcan; the upper portion represents the temple itself.

Aida has come to die with Radames. (Scene and duet, Radames, Aida: "The fatal stone now closes over me.") They accept their terrible fate (Radames: "To die, so pure and lovely"), bid farewell to earth and its sorrows, and await the Dawn, while Amneris prays above their tomb in the midst of the priestly ceremonies, and the jubilant dance of the priestesses. (Finale, chorus of priests and priestesses: "Almighty Ptha.")

Plot after The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version. and the 6th edition of The Victrola Guide to the Opera.

Aida is also a musical in two acts with music by Elton John; lyrics by Tim Rice; book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. First produced on Broadway in 2000. The musical is loosely based on the opera and ran on Broadway through 2004.

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