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Story Line of Verdi’s massive Opera
Produced and Directed by Maestro Giuseppe Raffa. Operama
HERE is the story of Verdi’s massive opera Aida which combines the rich sweep of life in Ancient Egypt with a touching plot of love and loyalty.
ACT I
THE atmosphere in the royal palace at Memphis is highly charged as High Priest Ramphis briefs warrior Radames of the latest uprising of the Ethiopians under their king Amonasro.
The gods are consulted to determine who will lead the Egyptian army against the invading enemy marching on Thebes.
Radames desperately wants the job to improve his standing in the eyes of Aida.
What the glory-seeking warrior doesn’t know is that Aida, slave to the Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris, is in fact the daughter of Ethiopian king Amonasro.
And Radames is unaware that he has captured the heart of Amneris who, observing his feelings for Aida, fakes friendship with the slave princess she hates and tries to draw her out.
The spectacular arrival of the Pharaoh ends this sticky altercation. The invasion and threat to Thebes is confirmed and Radames is installed as leader of Egypt’s forces.
But for Aida there are mixed emotions. As the crowd urges Radames on to victory, she is torn between the love for the Egyptian warrior and her own father and country.
Inside the temple of Vulcan, High Priest Ramphis invests Radames with sacred arms for the coming battles.
ACT II
RADAMES is triumphant and Amneris prepares for the victory celebrations but when Aida appears, she convinces her that Radames is dead. Aida, anguished cry confesses her secret love and Amneris declares herself Aida’s rival.
Aida is close to revealing her true status but finds herself at Amneris’ feet bagging for her pardon.
The sorry slave is ordered to attend the triumphal return of Egypt’s forces.
Everyone – from the highest to the lowest – is gathered at the gates of Thebes for the spectacular return of the victorious Army. Aida cannot conceal her dismay when among the prisoners she sees her father, King Amonasro.
Concealing his identity, Amonasro claims to have seen the Ethiopian king killed and after strong lobbying for and against, Pharaoh decides to release all prisoners, except Aida’s disguised father.
Pharaoh rewards Radames with the hand of his daughter Amneris. The warrior and his love Aida are thrown into despair amid the glorious celebrations.
ACT III
NEAR the temple of Isis, Amneris prays for good omens to attend her marriage and a homesick Aida waits in the shadows for Radames.
But her father arrives and guessing her secret love skilfully persuades her to pump Radames for information.
Amonasro hides as Radames approaches. The Ethiopians have rearmed and Aida’s warrior lover is off again to battle but Aida tricks him into revealing the route the Egyptian forces will take.
Amonasro reveals himself and his identity just as Amneris emerges from the temple crying treachery. Radames foils Amonasro attempt to kill the Pharaoh’s daughter and urges the Ethiopians to flee before surrendering himself.
ACT IV
AMNERIS is distressed, Aida as vanished and Radames is to be judged. As her warrior love passes through the royal palace to the trial she offers to save his life if he renounces Aida for her.
Radames refuses and the raged princess watches as he goes to be tried. Thence he refuses to defend himself and is sentenced to be buried alive.
Tormented by love, jealousy and despair, Amneris curses Ramfis and his high priests.
Radames has been sealed in a crypt below the temple of Vulcan regretting only that he will never see Aida again.
But the slave princess is there hidden in the tomb, wishing only to die at the side of her warrior love. The duo glimpse the heaven that awaits them as they slip into unconsciousness.
Outside the vault, Amneris collapses as she implores Isis to grant her the peace that Radames and Aida have found
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