Aida

Aida is a four-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi with an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. It premiered on December 24, 1871, at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo, Egypt. The opera is set in ancient Egypt and is renowned for its grand staging, complex characters, and dramatic arias.

Synopsis and Themes:

1. Setting and Characters:
   
   

   • The opera is set in Egypt during the time of the pharaohs.

   • Aida: The Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt.

   • Radames: An Egyptian military commander who loves Aida.

   • Amneris: The jealous daughter of the Pharaoh who also loves Radames.

   • Amonasro: Aida's father and the King of Ethiopia, held captive by Egypt.

   • Ramfis: The high priest who upholds Egyptian traditions.

2. Plot Overview:
   
   

   • Act I: Radames is chosen to lead Egypt's army against Ethiopia. He sings "Celeste Aida," expressing his desire to be victorious and win Aida's love. Amneris senses Radames's affection for Aida and becomes jealous.

   • Act II: Following Radames’s victory, a triumphant march welcomes the returning Egyptian army. Amonasro is paraded as a captive, but his identity as the Ethiopian king is kept secret.

   • Act III: Aida and Radames plan to flee together, but Amonasro manipulates Aida to learn Egyptian military secrets from Radames. Amneris overhears and betrays Radames.

   • Act IV: Radames is sentenced to death by being buried alive. Aida secretly joins him in the tomb, and they sing "O terra addio" as they die together.

3. Themes:
   
   

   • The conflict between personal love and patriotic duty.

   • Tragic love amidst war and political intrigue.

   • Loyalty and betrayal within relationships.

Repeated Clues in Quizbowl Questions:

1. Arias:

• "Ritorna vincitor": Aida's Act I aria expressing her inner conflict between her love for Radames and her loyalty to Ethiopia.

• "O patria mia": Aida's Act III aria lamenting her lost homeland, ending on a high C.

• "Celeste Aida": Radames's Act I aria expressing his love for Aida.

2. Triumphal March:

• A famous orchestral piece in Act II, often performed in concert. The scene includes elaborate staging, sometimes featuring elephants, to celebrate Egypt's victory.

3. Entombment and Death:

• The opera ends with Aida and Radames being buried alive in a temple vault (the Temple of Vulcan) while Amneris prays for Radames above.

4. Amneris’s Jealousy:

• Amneris tricks Aida into confessing her love for Radames by falsely claiming that he has died in battle.

5. Amonasro's Manipulation:

• Amonasro, Aida’s father, persuades her to extract military secrets from Radames, leading to Radames's downfall.

6. Historical Context:

• Commissioned for the opening of the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo.

• The Franco-Prussian War delayed the premiere due to costume production issues.

7. Leontyne Price:

• Aida became one of the signature roles of African-American soprano Leontyne Price, who performed it 44 times at the Met and made her farewell performance with this role in 1985.

Related Quizbowl Practice Fill-in-the-Blank:

1. The famous Act II procession in Aida is accompanied by the 1 March.

2. The aria 2 vincitor is sung by Aida in Act I as she laments her conflicting loyalties.

3. The high priest 3 sentences Radames to death for treason.

4. Aida's father, 4, is the King of Ethiopia and manipulates her to betray Radames.

5. Radames is buried alive in the Temple of 5, where Aida secretly joins him.

6. The aria "6 Aida" is sung by Radames in Act I as he dreams of victory and love.

7. Verdi composed Aida for the opening of the 7 Opera House in Cairo.

8. Aida's rival in love, 8, is the daughter of the Pharaoh.

9. Soprano 9 Price made history by performing the role of Aida at La Scala in 1960.

Answers:

1. Triumphal

2. Ritorna

3. Ramfis

4. Amonasro

5. Vulcan

6. Celeste

7. Khedivial

8. Amneris

9. Leontyne

Repeated Clues Related to Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida in Quizbowl Questions

1. Aida’s Aria “O patria mia” - 25 occurrences

• Details: Aida sings this aria in Act III, expressing her longing for her homeland and sorrow over her plight. It features a climactic high note and emotional depth, highlighting her despair.

2. Radames and Aida Buried Alive - 23 occurrences

• Details: The opera concludes with Radames and Aida entombed in the Temple of Vulcan as Amneris prays for Radames, illustrating the tragic ending of their love story.

3. “Ritorna vincitor” Aria - 22 occurrences

• Details: Sung by Aida in Act I, this aria portrays her conflicting emotions about Radames’ potential victory, which would harm her homeland but glorify her love.

4. Triumphal March and Use of Elephants - 20 occurrences

• Details: The iconic Act II scene features a grand procession with fanfare trumpets and a celebratory tone, sometimes performed with live elephants for grandeur.

5. Amneris’ Love for Radames - 18 occurrences

• Details: Amneris, the Egyptian princess, manipulates and confronts both Radames and Aida due to her unrequited love for Radames, adding tension to the love triangle.

6. Amonasro’s Role and Deception - 16 occurrences

• Details: Amonasro, Aida’s father, pretends to be an officer and manipulates Aida to extract military secrets from Radames, intensifying the drama and leading to the tragic climax.

7. “O terra, addio” Farewell Duet - 14 occurrences

• Details: In their final moments, Aida and Radames sing this duet as they accept their fate and bid farewell to life, creating a poignant end to the opera.

8. Setting in Ancient Egypt - 12 occurrences

• Details: The opera’s setting in Egypt, including Thebes and the Temple of Vulcan, provides an exotic and historical backdrop that enhances the grandeur of the production.

9. Leontyne Price’s Iconic Performances - 10 occurrences

• Details: Leontyne Price’s portrayal of Aida, particularly her 1960 performance at La Scala, is celebrated as groundbreaking, as she was the first African-American soprano in a lead role there.

10. Aida and Radames’ Forbidden Love - 8 occurrences

• Details: The central theme of their ill-fated romance, complicated by their loyalty to opposing sides in a war, drives the opera’s narrative and emotional core.

Additional Themes:

11. Premiere and Franco-Prussian War Delay - 5 occurrences

• Details: The opera’s debut at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo was delayed due to costume shipment issues caused by the Franco-Prussian War.

12. Camille Du Locle’s Influence - 4 occurrences

• Details: Du Locle persuaded Verdi to compose Aida for the opera house in Cairo, enhancing its connection to Egypt.

Insights:

• Quizbowl questions about Aida frequently focus on its iconic arias, the tragic love story, and grand staging elements like the triumphal march.

• Performances by renowned artists like Leontyne Price, as well as the historical and cultural significance of the opera, are common points of emphasis.