Aida

Aida is an opera in four acts by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. It is set in the time of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs and was first performed at the Cairo Opera House on Dec. 24, 1871.

In 1868, the French archaeologist Auguste-Ferdinand-Francois Mariette suggested to the khediv (ruler) of Egypt a story for an opera that would remind the world of Egypt’s ancient past and would be a suitable way to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. The French writer Camille du Locle made a version of the story in French prose. Du Locle’s version did not reach Verdi until 1870, a year after the canal opened. Verdi gave it to the Italian librettist and former operatic baritone Antonio Ghislanzoni, who turned it into one of the finest librettos (texts) in the operatic repertoire.

Set in ancient Egypt, the story concerns the tragic love affair between Aida, an Ethiopian slave, and Radames, an Egyptian military officer. The woman whom Aida is forced to serve, Princess Amneris, also loves Radames, although he does not realize this. Radames is also unaware that Aida is the daughter of Amonasro, the king of Ethiopia, whose invading forces he is about to face in battle.

Amneris tricks Aida into declaring her love for Radames. The victorious army returns in triumph, depicted by Verdi’s stirring “Triumphal March” in Act II. Aida’s father is among the captives. He persuades Aida to have Radames reveal the plan for the Egyptians’ next attack on Ethiopia. After coaxing Radames into agreeing to escape to Ethiopia with her, Aida mnanages to draw from him vital details of Egypt’s secret plan for the upcoming battle. Amonasro has been eavesdropping on his daughter’s meeting with Radames. When Amonasro steps forward and reveals his identity to the Egyptian, Radames is horrified to realize he has betrayed his country. When Amneris, the high priest Ramfis, and the pharaoh’s guards discover Radames with the two Ethiopians, Radames gives himsef up. Amonasro is killed, but Aida is able to escape. Despite Amneris’s attempts to get him to save himself, Radames is convicted of treason and condemned to be walled up alive in a tomb. As the stones are piled up around him, he laments that he will never see Aida again. But suddenly, having hidden herself in the tomb, she appears and joins him in death.

Aida is full of extraordinarily powerful arias, including Radames’s famous love song, “Celeste Aida” (“Heavenly Aida”). Aida sings two anguished soliloquies. There are also duets and massive choruses of soldiers, slaves, and priests. Three scenes feature ballet sequences.

See also Verdi, Giuseppe .