Aida
By Giuseppe Verdi
Setting
The opera does not specify a
very specific time and so it is difficult to place it more specifically
than the Old Kingdom. For the first production, Mariette went to great
efforts to make the sets and costumes authentic. Given the consistent
artistic styles through the 3000 year history of ancient Egypt, a
production does not particularly need to choose a specific time.
Synopsis
Overview:
Aida, an Ethiopian princess, is captured and brought into slavery in
Egypt. A military commander, Radames, struggles to choose between his love
for her and his loyalty to the Pharaoh. To complicate the story further,
Radames is loved by the Pharaoh's daughter Amneris, although he does not
return her feelings.
Time and Place: Ancient Egypt
Act 1
Scene 1: A hall in the
King's palace; through the rear gate the pyramids and temples of Memphis
Ramfis, the high priest of
Egypt tells Radames, the young warrior, that war with the Ethiopians seems
inevitable, and Radames expresses the hope that he be chosen as the
Egyptian commander. (Ramfis, Radames : Si, corre voce I'Etiope ardisca
/ "Yes, it is rumored that Ethiopia dares once again to threaten our
power").
Radames dreams both of
gaining victory on the battle field and of Aida, the Ethiopian slave, with
whom he is secretly in love (Radames: Se quel guerrier io fossi!...Celeste
Aida - "Heavenly Aïda"). Aida, who is also secretly in love with
Radames, is the captured daughter of the Ethiopian King Amonasro, but her
Egyptian captors are unaware of her true identity. Her father has invaded
Egypt to deliver her from servitude.
Amneris, the daughter of the
Egyptian King enters the hall. She too loves Radames, but fears that his
heart belongs to somebody else (Radames, Amneris: Quale insolita giola
nel tuo sguardo - "In thy visage I trace").
Then Aida appears and, when
Radames sees her, Amneris notices that he looks disturbed. She suspects
that Aida could be her rival, but she is able to hide her jealousy and
approaches her (Amneris, Aida, Radames: Vieni, o diletta, appressati
/ "In your looks I trace a joy unwanted").
The King enters, along with
the High Priest, Ramfis, and the whole palace court. A messenger announces
that the Ethiopians, led by King Amonasro, are marching towards Thebes.
The King declares war and also proclaims Radames to be the man chosen by
the goddess Isis as leader of the army (The King, Messenger, Radames,
Aida, Amneris, chorus: Alta cagion v'aduna / "Oh fate o'er Egypt
looming"). Upon receiving the mandate from the King, Radames proceeds to
the temple of Vulcan to take up the sacred arms (The King, Radames, Aida,
Amneris, chorus: Su! del Nilo al sacro lido / "On! Of Nilus' sacred
river, guard the shores").
Alone in the hall, Aida is
torn between her love for her father, her country, and Radames. (Aida:
Ritorna vincitor - "Return a conqueror").
Scene 2: Inside the Temple
of Vulcan
Solemn ceremonies and dances
by the priestesses take place (High Priestess, chorus, Radames:
Possente Ftha...Tu che dal nulla - "O mighty Ptha.") followed by the
installation of Radames to the office of commander-in-chief. (High
Priestess, chorus, Radames: Immenso Ftha .. Mortal, diletto ai Numi
/ "O mighty one, guard and protect!"). All present in the temple pray for
the victory of Egypt and protection for their warriors (Nume, custode e
vindice/ "Hear us, O guardian deity").
Act 2
Scene 1: The chamber of
Amneris
Dances and music to
celebrate Radames' victory take place (Chorus, Amneris: Chi mai fra gli
inni e i plausi / "Our songs his glory praising"'). However, Amneris
is still in doubt about Radames' love and wonders whether Aida is in love
with the young warrior. She tries to forget her doubt, entertaining her
worried heart with the dance of Moorish slaves (Chorus, Amneris: Vieni:
sul crin ti piovano / "Come bind your flowing tresses").
When Aida enters the
chamber, Amneris asks everyone to leave. By falsely telling Aida that
Radames has died in the battle, she tricks her into professing her love
for him. In grief, and shocked by the news, Aida confesses that her heart
belongs to Radames eternally (Amneris, Aida: Fu la sorte dell' armi a'
tuoi funesta / "The battle's outcome was cruel for your people...").
This confession fires
Amneris with rage, and she plans on taking revenge on Aida. Ignoring
Aida's pleadings, (Amneris, Aida, chorus: Su! del Nilo al sacro lido
/ "Up! at the sacred shores of the Nile") Amneris leaves her alone in the
chamber.
Scene 2: The grand gate of
the city of Thebes
Radames returns victorious
and the troops march into the city (Chorus, Ramfis: Gloria all'Egitto,
ad Iside / "Glory to Egypt, to Isis!"). The Egyptian king decrees that
on this day the triumphant Radames may have anything he wishes. The
Ethiopian captives are rounded up and Amonasro appears among them. Aida
immediately rushes to her father, but their true identities are still
unknown to the Egyptians. Amonasro declares that the Ethiopian king (he
himself) has been slain in battle. Aida, Amonasro and the captured
Ethiopians plead with the Egyptian King for mercy, but the Egyptians call
for their death (Aida, Amneris, Radames, The King, Amonasro, chorus:
Che veggo! .. Egli? .. Mio padre! .. Anch'io pugnai / "What do I
see?.. Is it he? My father?").
As his reward from the King,
Radames pleads with him to spare the lives of the prisoners and to set
them free. Gratefully, the King of Egypt declares Radames to be his
successor and to be his daughter's betrothed (Aida, Amneris, Radames, The
King, Amonasro, chorus: O Re: pei sacri Numi! .. Gloria all'Egitto
/ "O King, by the sacred gods..."). Aida and Amonasro remain as hostages
to ensure that the Ethiopians do not avenge their defeat.
Act 3
On the banks of the Nile,
near the Temple of Isis
Prayers are said (Chorus,
Ramfis, Amneris: O tu che sei d'Osiride / "O thou who to Osiris
art...") on the eve of Amneris and Radames' wedding in the Temple of Isis.
Outside, Aida waits to meet with Radames as they had planned (Aida: Qui
Radames verra .. O patria mia / "Oh, my dear country!").
Amonasro appears and forces
Aida to agree to find out the location of the Egyptian army from Radames
(Aida, Amonasro: Ciel, mio padre! .. Rivedrai le foreste imbalsamate
/ "Once again shalt thou gaze."). When he arrives, Amonasro hides behind a
rock and listens to their conversation.
Radames affirms that Aida is
the person he will marry ( Pur ti riveggo, mio dolce Aida .. Nel fiero
anelito ; Fuggiam gli ardori inospiti .. La, tra foreste vergini
/ "I see you again, my sweet Aida!" ), and Aida convinces him to flee to
the desert with her.
In order to make their
escape easier, Radames proposes that they use a safe route without any
fear of discovery and he also reveals the location where his army has
chosen to attack. Upon hearing this, Amonasro comes out of hiding and
reveals his identity. Radames feels dishonored. At the same time Amneris
and Ramfis leave the temple and, seeing Radames with their enemy, call the
guards. Amonasro and Aida try to convince Radames to escape with them, but
he refuses and surrenders to the imperial guards.
Act 4
Scene 1: A hall in the
Temple of Justice. To one side is the door leading to Radames' prison cell
Amneris ( L'aborrita
rivale a me sfuggia / "My hated rival has escaped me") desires to save
Radames. She calls for the guard to bring him to her.
She asks Radames to deny the
accusations, but Radames refuses. Certain that, as punishment, he will be
condemned to death, Amneris implores him to defend himself, but Radames
firmly refuses. He is relieved to know Aida is still alive and hopes she
has reached her own country (Amneris, Radames: Gia i Sacerdoti adunasi
/ "Already the priests are assembling"). His decision hurts Amneris.
Radames' trial takes place
offstage; he does not reply to Ramfis' accusations and is condemned to
death, while Amneris, who remains onstage, pleads with the priests to show
him mercy. As he is sentenced to be buried alive, Amneris curses the
priests while Radames is taken away (Judgment scene, Amneris, Ramfis, and
chorus: Ohime! .. morir mi sento / "Heavenly spirit, descend").
Scene 2: The lower portion
of the stage shows the vault in the Temple of Vulcan; the upper portion
represents the temple itself
Radames has been taken into
the lower floor of the temple and sealed up in a dark vault. Thinking that
he is alone and hoping that Aida is in a safer place, he hears a sigh and
then sees Aida. She has hidden herself in the vault in order to die with
Radames. (Radames and Aida: La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse. /
"The fatal stone now closes over me.") They accept their terrible fate (Radames:
Morir! Si pura e bella / "To die! So pure and lovely!") and bid
farewell to earth and its sorrows.[16]
Above the vault in the temple of Vulcan, Amneris weeps and prays to the
goddess Isis. In the vault below, Aida dies in Radames' arms. (Chorus,
Aida, Radames, Amneris: Immenso Ftha / "Almighty Ptha.")[17]
