Aida

"Aida" at the 100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2023

Opera overview

«Celeste Aida, forma divina» (Heavenly Aida, goddess of Beauty), and absolute Queen of the Arena.

Undisputed symbol of the Opera Festival since 1913, this opera by Giuseppe Verdi will be staged at the Arena on 14 dates, between 16 June and 8 September, in a new production, waiting to be discovered.

In the pyramids’ shadow, in an ancient and mysterious Egypt, you will uncover the tormented love between Aida - an Ethiopian princess made into a slave - and Radamès - the brave warrior - who is also loved by Amneris - the proud and strong-willed daughter of the Pharaoh.

 

Aida

by Giuseppe Verdi
Opera in four acts. Booklet by Antonio Ghislanzoni

Conductor Marco Armiliato (16, 17, 25, 29/6 - 9, 16, 21, 30/7 - 2/8), Daniel Oren (18, 23/8 - 3, 8/9)
Direction, set design, costumes, lighting design, choreograpyhy Stefano Poda

Arena di Verona Orchestra, Chorus, Corps de Ballet and Technical team
Choirmaster Roberto Gabbiani 
Dance Company Coordinator Gaetano Petrosino 

 

New production

Location

Arena di Verona

Director

Daniel Oren, Marco Armiliato

Show type

Opera

Libretto

Antonio Ghislanzoni

Music

Giuseppe Verdi

Duration

2 h 49 min

Date

    There are no more events scheduled for this show.

Plot Roberto Mori ACT I

There is wind of war in Memphis. Ramfis, the High Priest and secret power of the State, informs Radames, captain of the guards, that the Ethiopians are about to invade Egypt. The idea of a war stimulates Radames, a man of ambition and courage. He hopes the god Isis will appoint him supreme commander of the army. He dreams of glory, and everything seems possible. War, for him, is also an occasion to appear valiant before the eyes of the woman he secretly loves: Aida, an Ethiopian slave in the service of Amneris, the Pharaoh’s daughter.

The Egyptian princess is also in love with Radames. Intuitive by nature, though, she immediately suspects she has a rival in this slave but prefers to conceal her jealousy with double cunning. Meanwhile, Aida’s heart is heavy with anxiety: her country is at war, yet at the same time, a love links her to a new world.

A fanfare sounds and a majestic choral scene overrides individual conflicts and aspirations. The leaders of the State meet to plan a war strategy. The King and Ramfis stand out as personalities who have no individual identity, personifying a power which crushes anyone who stands in their way.

After a messenger arrives to confirm that the Ethiopians have invaded under the leadership of King Amonasro, the Pharaoh announces that the Oracle has chosen Radames to be commander-in-chief.

Everyone is thrilled and urges him to return home victorious. Aida, in private, grieves: she hopes Radames will be victorious but at the same time, wants her father, Amonasro to destroy the Egyptian troops. Desperate, full of repressed anxiety, she prays to the gods for mercy.

The rite of investiture as commander-in-chief takes place in the Temple of Vulcan. Against a background of singing and dancing, a silver veil is placed on Radames’s head while Ramfis hands him the consecrated sword. The commander-in-chief has received a blessing, hence it is a just war albeit set on destruction.

 

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