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Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Antonio Ghislanzoni
Premiere: 24 December 1871, Cairo (Opera House)
Language: Italian
Subtitles (click on CC): Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian.
Aida Synopsis: https://www.opera-arias.com/verdi/aida/synopsis/

Aida is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. Aida was first performed at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on 24 December 1871, conducted by Giovanni Bottesini.

Contrary to popular belief, the opera was not written to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, nor that of the Khedivial Opera House (which opened with Verdi's Rigoletto) in the same year. Verdi had been asked to compose an ode for the opening of the Canal, but declined on the grounds that he did not write "occasional pieces".

Ghislanzoni's scheme follows a scenario often attributed to the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, but Verdi biographer Mary Jane Phillips-Matz argues that the source is actually Temistocle Solera.

Today the work holds a central place in the operatic canon, receiving performances every year around the world; at New York's Metropolitan Opera alone, Aida has been sung more than 1,100 times since 1886. Aida continues to be a staple of the standard operatic repertoire. It is frequently performed in the Verona Arena, and is a staple of its renowned opera festival.

La Scala mounted a lavish new production of Aida designed by Franco Zeffirelli for the opening night of its 2006/2007 season. The production starred Violeta Urmana in the title role and Roberto Alagna as Radamès. This is the recording of La Prima della Scala on 7th of December 2006.

Cast & Characters:
Radames - Roberto Alagna
Aida - Violeta Urmana
Amneris - Ildiko Komlosi
Il re - Marco Spotti
Ramfis - Giorgio Giuseppini
Amonasro - Carlo Guelfi
Il messaggero - Antonello Ceron
La sacerdotessa - Sae Kyung Rim

Dancers: Luciana Savignano, Roberto Bolle, Myrna Kamara
Corps de Ballet of the Teatro alla Scala
Pupils of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala
Choreographer - Vladimir Vassiliev

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
Conductor - Riccardo Chailly

Coro del Teatro alla Scala
Chorus Master - Bruno Casoni

Production and Sets - Franco Zeffirelli
TV Director - Patrizia Carmine
Recorded in Milan, Teatro alla Scala, December 7, 2006

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