Giuseppe Verdi<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opera<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The story is set in Memphis and Thebes, during the reign of pharaohs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opera in 4 acts<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premiere took place on 24 December 1871 in Cairo (Egypt)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Astana Opera House, the premiere took place on 19 November 2014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Performed in Italian<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n (accompanied by synchronized subtitles in Kazakh and Russian)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ACT I<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A hall in the King\u2019s palace at Memphis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The high priest Ramphis informs Radam\u00e8s, the captain of the guards, that the Ethiopeans have rebelled and are threatening the Nile valley. The goddess Isis has just told him the name of the man who is to command the Egyptian army, and the high priest goes off to inform the King. Left alone, Radam\u00e8s cherishes the secret hope that he himself has been selected and revels in the thought of his glory and above all of Aida, the Ethiopian slave whom he passionately loves. The expression on his face does not escape the notice of Amneris, the King\u2019s daughter, who secretely loves him and fears a rival. When Aida enters, Radam\u00e8s\u2019s agitation and that of the slave herself heighten Amneris\u2019 suspicions. Preceded by guards, ministers and priests, the King enters. A Messenger tells of the invasion of the Ethiopians who, led by their king Amonasro, are about to attack Thebes. The King informs the assembled company, who invoke war, that Isis has chosen Radam\u00e8s to command the army. Radam\u00e8s exults. Amneris hands him a standard and everyone exhorts him to return as the winner. Aida alone is desperate, for she cannot hope either to see her people defeated and Amonasro, her father, dragged in chains, or to lose her beloved Radam\u00e8s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interior of the temple of Vulcan at Memphis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ramfis and the priests stand beneath the altar. From within is heard the ritual of the priestesses invoking the god Fth\u00e0. Radam\u00e8s is ushered into the temple. While the priestesses dance, a veil is spread over the army chief\u2019s head and he is invested with the sacred arms. Ramfis entrusts to him the fate of Egypt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ACT II<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A room in Amneris\u2019s apartment<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n While Moorish slaves dance, Amneris is being attired by her slave girls,in preparation for the triumphal festivities in honour of the conqueror Radam\u00e8s. Aida enters, looking shaken. Amneris is suspicious and pretends to share her sorrow over the defeat of the Ethiopian people. And when she gives her the false news that Radam\u00e8s has been slain in battle, Aida\u2019s desperation confirms that the slave is her rival in love. The two women confront each other. In a fury, Amneris threatens Aida and forces her to attend her approaching triumph. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A gate to the city of Thebes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The King enters with his retinue, and sits on the throne. Next to him are the princess Amneris with her slaves and Aida. The people sing the praises of Egypt, Isis and the King. With a fanfare, the victorious army files past the King. At the end of this triumphal procession comes Radam\u00e8s. Amneris places a laurel crown on his head and the King invites him to ask for whatever he wishes. Aida catches sight of her father Amonasro, dressed as an ordinary officer, among the Ethiopian prisoners. She embraces him but, in order not to betray him, does not reveal his royal identity. Amonasro presents himself to the King and appeals for clemency for his conquered people. The Egyptians commiserate with the prisoners, but Ramfis and the priests advise the King to show no mercy. At this point Radam\u00e8s intervenes, asking the King to spare the lives and freedom of the defeated Ethiopians. The King consents and proclaims \u2013 on the advice of Ramfis \u2013 that Aida and her father alone shall be kept in Egypt as a token of peace. He then grants the hand of Amneris to Radam\u00e8s, who shall one day rule over Egypt. Amneris\u2019 exultance is echoed by Aida\u2019s despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ACT III<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The banks of the Nile<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n From the temple of Isis come ritual in honour of the goddess. And off a boat step Amneris, Ramfis, veiled women, and guards. It is the eve of the marriage, and Amneris goes to the temple to pray. Aida enters, covered by a veil. She awaits Radam\u00e8s, who has arranged a tryst with her there. In the meantime the girl muses on her frustrated dream of love and the beauties of her homeland that she will never see again. Her fatherAmonasro appears. Having noticed her feelings for Radam\u00e8s,he puts before her the prospect of returning home and happily living there with her beloved; but first the Egyptians must be defeated. He therefore asks her to wheedle out of Radam\u00e8s the secret route his army will be taking. Aida is reluctant, but eventually yields to Amonasro\u2019s insistence when he calls her a slave to the Pharaohs and threatens to repudiate her. Amonasro now hides. Radam\u00e8s enters, and confides to Aida that he is hoping for another victory, which will enable him to obtain permission from the King to marry her as a reward. Aida proposes instead that he flee with her to Ethiopia, where they will be able to live happily. Radam\u00e8s hesitates, but she persuades him and they prepare to elope. Aida asks Radam\u00e8s how they can escape the army, and he replies that until the next day the gorge of N\u00e0pata will be safe. When Amonasro hears this name, he emerges and reveals that he is the king of the Ethiopians. Radam\u00e8s is petrified and realizes he has betrayed his country. When Amneris comes out of the temple and accuses Radam\u00e8s of betrayal, Amonasro leaps to kill her. But Radam\u00e8s steps between, and manages to prevent him from striking her. He lets Aida and her father escape and gives himself up to Ramfis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ACT IV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A hall in the King\u2019s palace<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Amneris is desperate. Radam\u00e8s is about to be tried for treason. She still loves him and is determined to do her utmost to save him. She has him brought into her presence and begs him to clear himself of the charges against him. But Radam\u00e8s refuses. He declares that his honour is untarnished and that he is resolved to die, having lost Aida. Amneris reveals that the girl is alive and free, and promises to have his life spared if he renounces her. But Radam\u00e8s reiterates his decision. Amneris sees the priests go down to the dungeon to pronounce their sentence. Ac-cused of treason, desertion and abuse of the King\u2019strust, Radam\u00e8s refuses to defend himself and is condemned to be buried alive. In despair, Amneris curses the priests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the upper floor, interior of the temple of Vulcan; on the lower floor, a dungeon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Two priests seal the dungeon in which Radam\u00e8s is entombed. In the darkness he hears a cry and glimpses a figure moving towards him. It isAida, who had crept in earlier, to die in the arms of her beloved. As the angel of death approaches, they bid farewell to earthly life and prepare for heaven. In the temple Amneris, in mourning, prays to Isis for Radam\u00e8s\u2019s soul.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The story is set in Memphis and Thebes, during the reign of pharaohs.<\/p>\n