AIDA

In a large hall in the king’s palace in Memphis, among enormous statues and flowering shrubs, High Priest Ramfis shares his fear of invasion by the Ethiopians with Radamès, captain of the army. What’s more, the oracle of Isis has already declared the name of the one who will lead the royal troops in twar, and soon the king will make it public. Radamès hopes to be the chosen one (“Se quel guerrier io fossi”), not only for the glory but also to gain the hand of Aida, an Ethiopian slave and prisoner of the Egyptians (“Celeste Aida”). Amneris, however, daughter of the pharaoh, is in love with Radamès and has the suspicion that Aida is her rival. To confirm this, she devises a cunning plan: she calls for Aida affectionately, at the same time watching Radamès with an inquisitive eye (“Vieni, o diletta”). But the much feared moment has arrived: a messenger announces that the Ethiopians, led by King Amonasro, are advancing towards Thebes. It is a declaration of war. The pharaoh announces the name of the hero chosen by Isis: Radamès. All rejoice except Aida who is torn between paternal affection and her love for an enemy of her people. Hoping that everything goes well in the war for her beloved, she begs forgiveness from the gods for her torn heart (“Ritorna vincitor”). Finally, in the temple of Vulcan, the priestesses present Radamès with sacred weapons. His departure against the Ethiopians at the helm of the Egyptian army is imminent.

Aida’s suffering has not escaped Amneris, who in her chambers is preparing to celebrate the victory of the Egyptians. She sees the slave and does not want to miss the chance of a face to face meeting, both to enjoy the defeat of the Ethiopian people, and to uncover her feelings for Radamès. Showing respect for her grief (“Fu la sorte dell’armi”), she deviously pretends to know that Radamès has died in battle which leads to Aida revealing her true feelings. Having obtained what she wanted, she strikes directly, confessing that Radamès is in fact alive and that, following her revelation, Aida is now in her hands. Uselessly the slave asks for forgiveness. The moment of triumph comes: the cheering crowd presses at the doors of Thebes, the king on his throne, his daughter beside him (“Gloria all’Egitto”). The war chariots arrive, followed by statues of the gods, and finally the loot preceded by seductive dancers. We hear a cry from the people: itis Radamès who appears among the general acclamation. Amneris crowns him with the victor’s wreath and the pharaoh promises toreward him as he deserves. A magnanimous hero, Radamès asks that the Ethiopian prisoners be gathered and pardoned. He does not know that Amonasro, Aida’s father, is among them. The crowd echoes Radamès’ words. Even the stern Ramfisis convinced of clemency (“Son nemici e prodisono”), but he advises the pharaoh, as a guarantee of peace, to hold Aida and a warrior claiming to have buried the Ethiopian king, as hostages. No one knows that this warrioris actually King Amonasro. The prisoners are freed, but the king has another prize in store for his brave leader: the hand of his daughter Amneris. It is an unexpected surprise for Radamès, a terrible blow for Aida, and a moment of joy that Amneris has long desired, who swears revenge on her rival.

On the banks of a quiet Nile, with the temple of Isis illuminated by the moon in the night sky, a boat docks quietly. It is led by Ramfis. Amneris begs Isis to protect her imminent marriage. Not far away, however, Aida is waiting for Radamès. She thinks of her distant and lost homeland, its blue skies, its green hills, its fragrant shores (“O patria mia”). Surprisingly, however, it is not her expected Radamès that emerges from the darkness but her father Amonasro, who tries to convince his daughter to take revenge against Amneris, her rival and daughter of the enemy. If the Ethiopians defeat the Egyptians, Aida can fulfil her dream of love with Radamès among the golden temples and the cool valleys of Ethiopia (“Rivedraile foreste imbalsamate”). The plan though isnot easy: the girl needs to convince Radamès to reveal the secret passage through which the Egyptians will descend on the Ethiopians. Although overwhelmed by the doubt of whether to betray her beloved or her people, Aida yields to the requests of her father. Whenshe meets Radamès, feigning plans of a future with him, she manages to obtain the Egyptianwar plans (“Là tra le foreste vergini”). As soon as Radamès reveals that the secret passage is in the gorge of Nàpata, Amonasro emerges from his hiding place where he was listening and reveals himself as king of the Ethiopians and tries to persuade Radamès to join his cause. However, they did not take Amneris into account who, through her spy network, was able to learn of Amonastro’s plan. She accuses him of wanting to destroy her dream of love and tries to have him arrested. But Radamès manages to let Amonasro and Aida escape before surrendering to Ramfis. True to his honesty, he is ready to pay for his own wrongdoing.

The battle is over. In a hall of the palace of the king of Egypt, Amneris – tormented between love and resentment – orders that Radamès be brought before her (“L’aborrita rivale a me sfuggia”). She wants to save him, and with him her own happiness but Radamès does not accept compromises. He does not want to oppose destiny, nor betray his feelings for Aida, who survived the fatal armed conflict in which Amonasro died (“Già i sacerdoti adunansi”).The priests are ready to issue a death sentence to Radamès, and whilst Amneris canonly curse her own mad jealousy that has led to this situation (“Ohimé, morir mi sento”), she does not fall to despair nor ask for mercy from her beloved Radamès. In front of the priests, the accused warrior does nothing to prevent his fate and a horrific sentence is issued. It is the moment of the execution which is to be particularly cruel. In the crypt under the temple of Vulcan shining with light and gold, Radamès is to be walled in alive. They enter the crypt. The priests close the room, laying the final stone (“La fatal pietra”). For the last time, Radamès calls out the name of Aida, who, incredibly, appears before him. Is it a dream? No, it is Aida, who has entered the dungeon to die with him (“Morir! sì purae bella”). The two embrace for the last time, without regret, happy to leave a world that has given them only pain (“O terra addio”). Above them Amneris, dressed in mourning, prays on her beloved’s grave and calls for peace for him.