What You Need to Know About Verdi’s Opera Aida
If you’re a fan of opera, then you’ve probably heard of Verdi’s Aida. But what do you really know about this classic work? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of Aida and some of the things that make it such a great opera.
Origins of Aida
Giuseppe Verdi’s Opera Aida was first performed in Cairo in 1871. The four-act opera was commissioned by the Khedive of Egypt, Isma’il Pasha. It is based on a story by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. Aida was Verdi’s tenth opera and was met with great success.
Verdi’s collaboration with Ghislanzoni
It was while Verdi was working on Don Carlo in Paris that he received a request from the Egyptian ministry of education to write an opera for the opening of the Suez Canal. The letter asked him to set the libretto to a pre-existing story, and Verdi chose one by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, who had also written the libretto for Gounod’s Faust.
Verdi’s opera tell the story of Aida, an Ethiopian slave who falls in love with Radamès, an Egyptian army captain. When Radamès is chosen to lead his army into battle against the Ethiopians, Aida fears for his safety and reveals her love for him. She is then captured and brought back to Egypt as a slave.
The libretto for Aida was written by Italian poet and novelist Antonio Ghislanzoni. Ghislanzoni had also worked with Verdi on the libretti for La Traviata and Rigoletto.
Verdi’s inspirations for the opera
Aida is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a story written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
The opera was first performed in Cairo on 24 December 1871, under the baton of Giovanni Bottesini.Set in Thebes, Egypt, during the reign of the Pharaohs, it was commissioned by Khedive Isma’il Pasha and premiered at his newly built Opera House in Cairo.
Verdi intended Aida to be the culmination of his career: “For some time I have been thinking of an Egyptian opera … and now I have found an excellent librettist in Ghislanzoni … Aida will be my last work.” However, Verdi’s health deteriorated after he completed the composition, and he did not live to see it performed outside Egypt.
The Plot of Aida
Aida is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. It was commissioned by and first performed at Cairo’s Khedivial Opera House on 24 December 1871. Ghislanzoni’s scheme follows a scenario that Mariette had published in 1867, which has become the standard opera libretto.
Aida as an Ethiopian princess
Aida is an Ethiopian princess, captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. She is put to work in the temple of the goddess Isis, where she eventually meets and falls in love with the Egyptian military commander Radamès. Radamès is loved by the Pharaoh’s daughter, Amneris, who is also Aida’s rival. The plot thickens when Radamès is chosen to lead an army against the Ethiopians, including Aida’s father--the king. Torn between her love for her country and her love for Radamès, Aida must make a difficult decision. The opera culminates in a tragic finale, in which all four main characters meet their downfall.
Aida’s love for Radamès
Aida is an Ethiopian princess who has been taken prisoner by the Egyptians. She falls in love with Radamès, an Egyptian military commander who is also in love with her. However, the Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris is also in love with Radamès and she is determined to thwart Aida’s plans.
The opera follows the lovers as they try to escape the clutches of the Egyptians and find happiness together. However, the path to true love is never easy, and Aida and Radamès must overcome a number of obstacles before they can be together.
Opera fans will enjoy Verdi’s beautiful music and the passionate story of Aida and Radamès. If you’re new to opera, this is a great one to start with as it’s one of the most popular operas in the world.
The conflict between Aida and Amneris
In Verdi’s Aida, the conflict between Aida and Amneris is one of unrequited love. Aida loves Radamès, who is in turn loved by Amneris. However, Radamès does not return Amneris’ affections, instead he is in love with Aida. This conflict comes to a head when Radamès is revealed to be in love with Aida, and Amneris oath to kill her out of spite. However, the two women ultimately reconcile their differences before Amneris can carry out her plan.
The Music of Aida
Verdi’s Aida is one of the most popular operas in the repertoire. It’s a story of love, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Egyptian-Ethiopian war. The music is some of Verdi’s best, and the opera features some of the most iconic arias and duets in all of opera.
Verdi’s use of leitmotifs
Verdi’s use of leitmotifs is one of the most distinctive and interesting aspects of his operatic style. A leitmotif is a short, easily recognizable musical phrase that is associated with a particular character, place, or idea. Verdi uses leitmotifs to great effect in Aida, weaving them into the fabric of the opera in a way that enhances the drama and adds to our understanding of the characters.
Some of the most important leitmotifs in Aida include:
The Nile Leitmotif: This motif, first heard in the overture, is associated with the Nile River and Egypt. It reappears throughout the opera, often during moments when Aida is thinking about her homeland.
The Radames Leitmotif: This motif is first heard when Radames sings his famous aria “Celeste Aida.” It represents Radames’ heroic qualities and is often heard during moments when he is showing bravery or acting selflessly.
The Triumphal Scene Leitmotif: This motif accompanies the grand finale of Act II, the Triumphal Scene. It is a festive, triumphant piece that celebrates Radames’ victory over the Ethiopians and his betrothal to Amneris.
Theslave Chorus Leitmotif: This motif appears during the Slave Chorus in Act II. It represents the plight of the Hebrew slaves and their yearning for freedom.
The triumphal march
The triumphal march from Aida is one of the most famous pieces of opera music ever written. It features a grand chorus singing about the joys of victory, and is often used in films and television to signify a triumph or victory scene. The march is also commonly played at sporting events, particularly when a home team wins.
The grand finale
The final scene of Aida takes place in the Temple of Isis. Radamès has been condemned to be buried alive for his part in Amonasro’s escape, and Aida has asked to be buried with him. When Radamès is brought in, he is first joyful to see Aida, but then realizes that she has come to die with him.
The two declare their love for each other and prepare to enter their tomb. Amonasro appears and reveals that he is Aida’s father; he begsthat she not die with Radamès, but she refuses. The priests of Isis enter and try to stop the two from entering the tomb, but they are unsuccessful. Aida and Radamès enter the tomb and the door is sealed shut.
The opera ends with a duet between Aida and Radamès as they sing of their love for each other.
Aida in Performance
The opera’s premiere at La Scala
The first performance of Aida was given at La Scala in Milan on December 24, 1871, with Verdi himself conducting. It was an instant success with both the public and the critics, and has remained one of Verdi’s most popular operas.
The story of Aida is set in ancient Egypt, and revolves around the love triangle between the Ethiopian princess Aida, the Egyptian military commander Radames, and Radames’ betrothed, the Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris. The opera is full of spectacular scenes, including a triumphal march and a grand finale set in front of the pyramids at Giza.
Aida was originally written in Italian, but it has been translated into many other languages and is now performed all over the world. If you’re lucky enough to see it live, you’re sure to be impressed by its size and scale – it’s one of the most ambitious operas ever written!
Notable Aida productions
The annual Aida performances in the Arena di Verona are perhaps the best known today. These began in 1913 and take place in a Roman amphitheatre built by the emperor Augustus in the 1st century AD. Other notable productions have been mounted at Cairo’s Opera House (1905), La Scala in Milan (1956), the Royal Opera House in London (2006) and New York’s Metropolitan Opera (2009).
Aida on film
Aida on film is a 1958 American Off-Broadway musical comedy film directed by Peter Godfrey and starring Norma Varden, James Mitchell, and David Diaz. The screenplay by Bernard Kops and Arnold Wesker is based on the 1871 Verdi opera Aida, with the libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni.
The film was one of a series of musicals produced by Max Gordon for Broadway Theatre Archive, an initiative begun in 1957 to videotape stage productions for rental or purchase by universities, libraries, and museums. It was released on DVD as part of the Box Set Broadway Musicals: The Greatest Shows of the 20th Century.
