Aida

Two nations are at war, yet amidst the battlefield, a far more intimate drama unfolds—one that could lead to unexpected consequences. The Egyptian princess Amneris loves the commander Radamès; however, his heart belongs to the captive Aida, whose true identity as a princess of the enemy Ethiopian nation remains unknown to all. Unbeknownst to them, they will soon face a choice that determines life or death...

Verdi’s *Aida* is a masterpiece containing all the essential ingredients of Romantic Italian opera: love, jealousy, political intrigue, grand choral scenes, and an inevitable tragic death. Naturally, it also demands a superb cast of singers—in this instance, Csilla Boross, Sung Kyu Park, Luis Cansino, Aleš Jenis, and others. This production also marks the first time our company will collaborate with our junior ballet troupe, NdB2. While Verdi typically selected his own subjects for composition, this project came from an external source. The opera was commissioned by the Egyptian Khedive Ismail Pasha, originally intended for the celebrations marking the opening of the Suez Canal and the inauguration of the newly built Cairo Opera House. Verdi hesitated at first, but the subject matter—set in ancient Egypt and based on a story by the archaeologist Auguste Mariette—eventually captured his interest. It was not the spectacle that drew him in, but rather the intimate drama concealed beneath layers of political intrigue. This enabled him to craft a gripping and timeless story filled with powerful music—from famous arias like "Celeste Aida" and the Triumphal March to the opera’s heart-wrenching final quartet. Productions typically focus on the secret lovers Radames and Aida, but what if we were to view the entire story through the eyes of Amneris? She is determined to win Radames’s love at any cost—unaware that the ultimate price will be human lives, including that of the man she desires.