Premiere: 24 December 1871, Opera House, Cairo
Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 1 April 1877, St Petersburg
Premiere of this production: 30 December 1998, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg
Running time: 4 hours 05 minutes
The performance has three intervals
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The production is vivid, emotionally intense and utterly without a stage director’s refinements – traditional in the best sense of the word.
Musical Review
The sighs and whispers, the drooping phrases and breathing pauses are all interwoven into an extremely fine and delightful spider’s web that delights the audience with the enchanting mass of Verdi’s melodies.
Petrovsky Courier
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Today, not just in Russia but across the globe, theatres are trying to stage performances at reduced cost. Here an old construction is used from a pathos-filled production of the Stalinist era, but it has been worked on by Vyacheslav Okunev from a present-day viewpoint. The totally new paintings and costumes make the production a contemporary one.
St Petersburg Echo
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SYNOPSIS
ACT I
Scene 1. The Royal Palace at Memphis; Egypt and Ethiopia are at war.
Radames and Ramfis enter. They discuss the rumour that the Ethiopians are
planning a new attack and Ramfis discloses that the priesthood has
consulted the goddess Isis as to who should lead Egypt´s forces. He
looks meaningfully at Radames, but names no one. Alone, Radames muses
on forthcoming glory and the chance that it may enable him to marry
Aida, a beautiful Ethiopian slave girl. Amneris enters and asks about
his evident happiness. She hints at a loved one in Memphis and he looks
away. She is consumed by jealousy because she loves Radames herself.
Aida enters, and Amneris feigns kindness to her, while noticing that
Aida and Radames cannot look at one another. The Pharaoh enters with
the court. A messenger brings news of the Ethiopians´ coming attack,
led by King Amonasro who, unknown to everyone, is Aida´s father. There
is a call for war. Radames is named general and given the standard by
Amneris. The battle hymn concludes and the court departs. Aida is left
alone in confusion, unable to pray for Radames´ victory, yet, in her
love for him, wanting his safe return.
Scene 2. The temple of Vulkan.
A
ritual is in progress. Radames is led in by Ramfis and consecrated with
his weapons at the high altar. Both invoke the blessing of the god
Phtha on the campaign.
ACT II
Scene 1. Amneris´ apartment.
Radames
has been victorious. Amneris awaits the return of the man she loves and
is entertained by dancers. Aida comes in with Amneris´ crown. Feigning
kindness once again, Amneris hints that she knows Aida is in love with
an Egyptian. She then casually mentions that Radames has been killed
and Aida´s outburst reveals to her the truth. Admitting that she lied,
Amneris cruelly threatens Aida who – after a moment´s defiance – vainly
begs for forgiveness. Outside the sound of returning armies is heard.
Scene 2. Thebes.
The Pharaoh, Amneris, priests and courtiers await the arrival of Radames
and his victorious army. At the end of a long procession Radames enters
and is crowned as victor by Amneris while the Pharaoh proclaims him the
country´s saviour. Asked to name a favour, Radames requests the
Ethiopian slaves be brought in. Aida recognises her father, but
Amonasro whispers to her not to betray his true identity. To the
Pharaoh he describes how he and his comrades fought valiantly but how
their King was killed in battle. He pleads for mercy and Radames asks
that the captured Ethiopians be set free. Ramfis opposes him, but
eventually consents so long as the "spokesman" is kept under custody.
The Pharaoh agrees, and then promises Radames the hand of his daughter
in marriage. Radames will reign after him. Only Radames and Aida
privately voice sorrow at the royal decree.
ACT III
Scene 1 Night. The banks of the Nile, near the Temple of Isis
The sounds of chanting come from the Temple of Isis. Amneris arrives with
Ramfis to spend time before her wedding in prayer and they go into the
Temple. Aida enters to meet Radames in secret. As she cannot be his,
she thinks of drowning herself in the Nile. But Amonasro appears,
having eluded his guard, and tells Aida that she must help her country
in a new uprising. She must find out from Radames the route the
Egyptian army plans to take against them. At first she refuses but,
eventually worn down by her father, she agrees. Amonasro hides as
Radames enters, believing that if he is successful in battle a second
time the Pharaoh will not oppose their marriage. Aida tells him that
their only fortune together is in flight to her homeland. Eventually he
yields to her, and she casually asks which route the army will take to
Ethiopia. As he tells her, Amonasro steps out of the shadows, and
Radames is horrified to see what he has done. Both Amonasro and Aida
try to persuade him to come with them, but Amneris comes out of the
temple followed by Ramfis. Amonasro tries to stab Amneris but Radames
protects her. As Aida and Amonasro escape Radames surrenders to the
guards Ramfis has called.
ACT IV
Scene 1 A hall in the Palace, above the underground Chamber of Justice
Amneris waits alone, torn between her love and a desire for vengeance. She
sends for Radames and offers to secure a royal pardon if he will give
up Aida, who has made good her escape. Radames refuses and Amneris
sends him to his trial. Alone again she hears the charges against him
read out and then the sentence of death. As Radames is led up she
curses the priests´ cruelty.
Scene 2 The temple tomb in which Radames has been sentenced to a live burial.
Radames awaits death. The last stone has been put in place when he hears a
noise beside him. It is Aida who has stolen into the tomb to die with
him. They bid each other farewell while above, in the Temple,
priestesses chant and Amneris prays to Isis that Radames´ soul may rest
in peace.
