AIDA – Opera by Giuseppe Verdi 

Experience the passion and drama of ancient Egypt with the return of Aida to Dubai!

Back by popular demand, one of the greatest operas ever, Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece Aida returns to Dubai Opera for the opening of the 2024-2025 season this September! Performed by the Polish National Opera Orchestra, Choir, and Soloists under the baton of conductor Patrick Fournillier and the direction of Roberto Laganà Manoli, this timeless tale of love, sacrifice, and betrayal in ancient Egypt is a must-see for opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Programme

Act I
Scene 1: At Pharaoh’s palace in Memphis, Ramfis, the high priest of Isis, meets with young warrior Radames. It turns out that the goddess is to choose the commander who will lead the Egyptian forces against the Ethiopians. He is in love with a young slave called Aida who was captured during previous battles with the invaders. He hopes that the grateful Pharaoh will then give Aida her freedom and consent to his marriage to his beloved (“Celeste Aida”). Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris approaches the young man immersed in his dreams. She has loved Radames for a long time and is worried by his indifference. A messenger brings news of an Ethiopian attack under King Amonasro’s command. Pharaoh calls upon his compatriots to fight and announces that the goddess Isis has already chosen a commander who will lead the Egyptian forces. Aida faces a dilemma: she would like to wish Radames victory, but that would mean defeat and hardship for her country. (“Ritorna vincitor”).

Scene 2: A ceremony is in progress at the temple of Vulcan, with virgin priestesses dancing religious dances in front of a statue of the god Ftha. To the accompaniment of singing, Ramfis hands Radames a holy sword before the battle (“Nume, custode e vindice”).

Act II
Scene 1: Amneris in her chambers awaits the return of the victorious Egyptian forces. A conversation with Aida satisfies Pharaoh’s daughter that the Ethiopian slave loves Radames. Amneris proudly confesses that she is her rival in love (“Fu la sorte dell’armi”).

Scene 2: Pharaoh arrives with Amneris and Ramfis the high priest. Aida is terrified to see her father, King Amonasro, among the Ethiopian prisoners. To Pharaoh’s enquiry he replies that he is Aida’s father and claims that his king, Amonasro, was killed and begs for mercy. Radames, too, asks for freedom for the vanquished. The Egyptian ruler agrees with the high priest and gives Radames one more token of gratitude for his victory: the hand of his daughter. Radames, however, love is more important than a crown, and Pharaoh’s prize leaves him torn apart.

Act III
Amneris goes to the temple of Isis on the Nile riverbank. Pharaoh’s daughter wishes to spend the night before her wedding on prayer. Aida arrives a moment later for a tryst with her beloved. Her heart is filled with longing for her country (“O patria mia”). Amonasro unexpectedly appears as well. Knowing that Radames is readying for another war expedition, he persuades his daughter to use the Egyptian commander’s love to further the Ethiopian cause (“Ciel! Mio padre!”). Aida refuses but ultimately surrenders to her father’s will.

Act IV
Scene 1: Pharaoh’s daughter would like to save her beloved Radames and orders that the prisoner be brought to the palace. Before he stands before a court of priests, Amneris promises to obtain a pardon for him if he marries her and renounces Aida. Radames refuses, he would rather die than live without Aida. He stands silent before the court, and the priests led by Ramfis sentence him to death in disgrace.

Scene 2: Radames has been walled up in his tomb. His warm thoughts keep running to Aida. He does not know that she eluded the chase, knows of the court sentence, and hid in the crypt earlier to die with him. Their final meeting is suffused with feelings of love and eternal bliss (“O terra addio”). The deeply grieving Amneris comes to the temple to pray at Radames’ tomb for the peace of his soul.