Verdi’s
Aida
NEW PRODUCTION
Live: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m.
Encore: Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 3:00 p.m.
There will be a pre-opera talk led by Russell Fox one hour before the LIVE performance on Saturday.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Conductor), Angel Blue (Aida), Judit Kutasi (Amneris), Piotr Beczala (Radamès), Quinn Kelsey (Amonasro), Dmitry Belosselskiy (Ramfis), Morris Robinson (King)
American soprano Angel Blue headlines as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country in a new production of Verdi’s "Aida" by Michael Mayer that brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations. Romanian-Hungarian mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi also stars as Aida’s rival, Amneris, alongside Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as the soldier Radamès—completing opera’s greatest love triangle. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct the January 25 performance, which will be transmitted live from the Metropolitan Opera stage to cinemas worldwide.
ACT I
Ancient Egypt. The warrior Radamès and Aida, the Ethiopian slave of Princess Amneris, are in love. Amneris, daughter of the King, also loves Radamès. When he is chosen to lead the Egyptian army against the advancing Ethiopians, Aida is torn between love for Radamès and loyalty to her homeland, where her father is king.
ACT II
Ethiopia has been defeated. Amneris, realizing that Aida is her rival, is determined to win Radamès. At the victory celebration, Radamès asks the King for mercy for the Ethiopian prisoners, among whom is Amonasro, Aida’s father. The King grants the request and promises Radamès his daughter’s hand in marriage.
ACT III
Aida and Radamès meet secretly. Urged by her father, Aida makes Radamès tell her the secret battle plan of his army. Amonasro, hiding nearby, overhears their conversation. When Radamès realizes who Aida’s father is, he is desperate about what he has done. The high priest Ramfis has him arrested as a traitor. Aida and Amonasro escape.
ACT IV
Radamès, believing Aida dead, has been sentenced to be buried alive, but Aida has hidden in the vault to share his fate. They express their love for the last time. Amneris prays for peace.
The 2024-2025 Met Live Opera season in Sedona is generously sponsored by Chris Fladlien.