Up Next: Verdi’s Aida

Just last week, we completed an incredible run of Mozart’s rarely-performed Mitridate, re di Ponto, a heart-wrenching family story about divided loyalties, jealousy, political unrest, and the struggle for power. Composed 101 years later than the Mozart work, our next opera — Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida — also draws on many of those themes. It’s an important reminder of why opera is still relevant today: while many things have changed in the course of human history, we haven’t. We still fall in love, we still experience joy and sorrow, we hurt each other and we heal together. Aida is known for its expansive choruses and grand Egyptian setting; but like Mitridate, it is also a deeply human story — one that has resonated with audiences since its premiere in 1871.?

The story?

While Aida doesn’t specify a time period, it’s generally thought to be set during what historians call the Old Kingdom period of Egyptian history, around 2700-2200 BCE — a period that encompasses the building of the great pyramids of Giza. However, due to this ambiguity, as well as the universality of the opera’s themes, numerous productions have successfully set Aida in nearly every time period imaginable.

Aida is an epic tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of political conflict. Aida is a noble Ethiopian princess, who has been captured and enslaved by the Egyptians. Despite her enslavement, she falls in love with the leader of the Egyptian army, Radamès, who returns her feelings. However, Radamès is betrothed to Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian king, which leads to a love triangle fraught with tension, jealousy, and deceit. When the lovers’ plan to flee is uncovered, Radamès is arrested as a traitor. Amneris tries to save his life, but he will not renounce Aida. Sentenced to be buried alive in a tomb, Rademès hopes that Aida has escaped, but she reveals that she has hidden in the tomb to be with him. As the two take their last breaths, they express their love for one another for the last time.??

In many ways, Aida serves as a reflection on the consequences of imperialism and war. The conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt underscores the devastating effects of nationalistic pride, as well as the personal costs of political ambition. Through the fate of Aida and Radamès, as well as Amneris’ heartbreak, Verdi challenges us to consider the price of power and the human casualties of violent conflict.?

The music?

Verdi wrote 28 operas, and Aida is thought by many to be one of his best — and the most enduring. Written during a time when “grand opera” ruled, Verdi showcased both spectacle and deep emotion, masterfully blending opulence and intimacy. Moments like the iconic “Triumphal March” feature lush orchestration, roaring brass, and a massive chorus — but there are plenty of tender, intimate moments throughout the opera as well.?

The three characters at the center of the story —?Aida, Radamès, and Amneris —?are easily identifiable by their music, speaking to Verdi’s ability to build character musically. Aida’s powerful “Ritorna vincitor” displays her inner conflict through frantic vocal writing alongside reflective lyricism, a combination that hints at the sensitivity beneath her strength. Radamès’ “Celeste Aida” begins with heroics and grandeur, but quickly soars into romantic longing, while Amneris’ searing judgment scene highlights her character’s fiery torment as she begs the gods to take pity on Radamès.?

Aida at BLO?

Our one-night-only performance of Aida on November 10 will be presented as a staged concert, allowing us to focus on the intimacy that lies at the core of this wonderful opera, and — of course — its breathtaking music. Conducted by BLO Music Director David Angus, this cast of accomplished Verdians will thrill and move you. Soprano Michelle Johnson is one of the most in-demand Aidas in the opera world and has sung the role all over the United States. Making her exciting role debut as Amneris, mezzo-soprano Alice Chung returns to Boston Lyric Opera after portraying Suzuki in last season’s Madama Butterfly. Tenor Diego Torre returns to the role of Radamès, which he has sung to great acclaim internationally. Baritone Brian Major, last seen at BLO in 2022’s Champion, sings the role of Amonasro — Aida’s father and the captured king of Ethiopia — alongside Grammy Award-winning bass Morris Robinson as the high priest Ramfis.?

Coinciding with our 2024 Opera Gala, this star-studded production of Aida is an evening that you won’t want to miss! Tickets and more information are available here!?

Thank you for reading CODA! Coda comes from the Latin word for “tail,” and in music, it indicates an additional passage at the end of a piece, a final flourish that complements what’s come before. CODA goes beyond the curtain call to explore this unique and astonishing art form. Whether you’re a first-time opera-goer or a seasoned audience member, CODA is for you. Biweekly, we’ll enhance your experience of opera with behind-the-scenes highlights, educational articles, listening lists, and much, much more!?

Tickets are on sale now for our star-studded 2024/25 season! Featuring Lawrence Brownlee and John Holiday in Mozart’s Mitridate, re di Ponto; Michelle Johnson and Morris Robinson in Verdi’s masterpiece Aida; Anthony Roth Costanzo in Vivaldi’s The Seasons; and Brandie Sutton and Jamie Barton in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s American classic, Carousel.

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