After searching at the library, I finally found the opera DVD that I will base my paper on: "Aida" by the great Giuseppe Verdi.
"Aida" is a love story between a young Egyptian warrior (Radamés) and a young Ethiopian woman (Aida). Egypt and Ethiopia are almost at war, and Egyptian troops have Aida as a prisoner, but do not know that she is the daughter of the Ethiopian King (Amorasno). Radamés wants to be named commander of the Egyptian troops against the Ethiopians in order to obtain glory and to rescue his true love from enslavement. The Egyptian King's daughter (Amneris) is completely in love with Radamés, but notices that he is in love with another woman, not her. Actually, she notices that he looks at Aida with affectionate and loving eyes and begins to have suspicions. Having Aida as her personal slave, Amneris tries to find out if the Ethiopian slave returns his passionate feelings, with no success. The holy Egyptian priest (Ramfis) announces that the god Isis (the Egyptians' main deity) has named Radamés the commander of the Egyptian troops. Filled with joy and hope, Radamés prepares for the ceremony. However, Aida is in complete grief, since she wants her country to survive and win, but her love for Radamés also cries out for his victory. Perplexed, she prays for the gods to have mercy on her.
After some time (in the story that is) it is announced in Egypt that Radamés' troops have obtained victory over the Ethiopian army. Aida feels miserable and heartbroken, not knowing the fate of her father and brothers. Amneris sees an opportunity in her rival's vulnerability and again tries to persuade her to confess her love for Radamés. After encountering Aida's resistance to say the truth, Amneris deceives her by making believe that Radamés died in battle, which ultimately leads to Aida's confession. Finally able to know her feelings for her love, Amneris also confesses and swears that the Ethiopian slave will never find happiness with him. Aida, after learning about the Egyptian princess's lies, finds true relief, knowing that her love is still alive.
As a reward for leading the Egyptian army to victory, the king offers Radamés the chance to fulfill one wish, no matter what it is. Among the Ethiopian prisoners was Amorasno, Aida's father, which reunites with her daughter. Radamés asks the king for the freedom of all Ethiopian prisoners and slaves. In order to avoid another war, the king decides to let them go, except for Amorasno and Aida. In addition, the Egyptian king hands Radamés his daughter's hand for marriage. Radamés is shocked, and Aida is heartbroken.
Days before the marriage, Ramfis convinces Amneris to join him and the other priests at the temple to pray to Isis for the outcome of her coming wedding and life. They did not know that Radamés asked Aida to meet him just outside the temple. Waiting for her love, Aida realizes that his father is hiding, eavesdropping actually. Amorasno knows that his daughter is in love with the young warrior (and that he feels the same way), and begins to persuade her to make him escape with them and reveal the secret route Egypt's troops always take. After long confrontation and persuasion, he persuades Aida to get the truth out of Radamés. Radamés arrives and confesses his passionate love for her, but she confronts her with the tragic truth of his future marriage. At the end, she persuades him to run away with her. He also confesses the secret about the Egyptian troops. Amorasno then reveals himself, and Radamés feels betrayed. Having eavesdropped for a while after noticing the couple when she exited the temple, Amneris calls troops to capture them. Feeling dishonored and deceived, and also to let his love and her father escape, he surrenders to the troops. Amneris tries to convince Ramadés to justify his actions and tell the priests that he is innocent, but he refuses. He prefers to die if her true love is dead (he thinks that Aida died while escaping). The king's daughter begs him to say that he's innocent, even confessing his love for him. He rejects the idea. Finally, Amneris tells him that Amorasno did not survive, but Aida did and was nowhere to be found. Filled with happiness and relief, Radamés accepts his death as log as Aida lives. Amnesis tries but does not succeed.
Radamés does not defend himself when the priests accuse him for revealing deep secrets and being a traitor. He is sentenced to die in a chamber beneath the ceremony temple, that will be his tomb. Amnesis continues attempting to save his love's life, but Ramfis is already decided. Being sealed inside the isolated chamber, Radamés wishes a happy and prosperous life for Aida. He is then surprised by Aida herself, who had sneaked into the chamber when it was still open to receive its victim. Aida tells him that he can't live without him, that he prefers to die with him than live without him. She prefers to die in his arms. The story ends when the couple die in the chamber, knowing that their love will reign in heaven.
Very interesting, isn't it? Not only is the story good, but the music and the singing are extraordinary! The opera itself is just amazing, having so much variety and beauty. I almost cried at the end!
I must say this word: THE SET. The change of set was so incredible! There were different platforms with a variety of designs! The large Egyptian columns, the sculptures, the walls, the numerous stairs, the boulders could descent or ascend in any moment, moving from one set to a completely different set! The end is one of the most interesting: you could see the set of the ceremony temple on top of the chamber set! That is how I knew that there were different platforms. In that scene only the half of each set was visible and you could see the floor of the temple also being the roof of the chamber. Just... wow.
To conclude, I truly recommend you this Opera video, I am sure you will like it as much as I do.
After some time (in the story that is) it is announced in Egypt that Radamés' troops have obtained victory over the Ethiopian army. Aida feels miserable and heartbroken, not knowing the fate of her father and brothers. Amneris sees an opportunity in her rival's vulnerability and again tries to persuade her to confess her love for Radamés. After encountering Aida's resistance to say the truth, Amneris deceives her by making believe that Radamés died in battle, which ultimately leads to Aida's confession. Finally able to know her feelings for her love, Amneris also confesses and swears that the Ethiopian slave will never find happiness with him. Aida, after learning about the Egyptian princess's lies, finds true relief, knowing that her love is still alive.
As a reward for leading the Egyptian army to victory, the king offers Radamés the chance to fulfill one wish, no matter what it is. Among the Ethiopian prisoners was Amorasno, Aida's father, which reunites with her daughter. Radamés asks the king for the freedom of all Ethiopian prisoners and slaves. In order to avoid another war, the king decides to let them go, except for Amorasno and Aida. In addition, the Egyptian king hands Radamés his daughter's hand for marriage. Radamés is shocked, and Aida is heartbroken.
Days before the marriage, Ramfis convinces Amneris to join him and the other priests at the temple to pray to Isis for the outcome of her coming wedding and life. They did not know that Radamés asked Aida to meet him just outside the temple. Waiting for her love, Aida realizes that his father is hiding, eavesdropping actually. Amorasno knows that his daughter is in love with the young warrior (and that he feels the same way), and begins to persuade her to make him escape with them and reveal the secret route Egypt's troops always take. After long confrontation and persuasion, he persuades Aida to get the truth out of Radamés. Radamés arrives and confesses his passionate love for her, but she confronts her with the tragic truth of his future marriage. At the end, she persuades him to run away with her. He also confesses the secret about the Egyptian troops. Amorasno then reveals himself, and Radamés feels betrayed. Having eavesdropped for a while after noticing the couple when she exited the temple, Amneris calls troops to capture them. Feeling dishonored and deceived, and also to let his love and her father escape, he surrenders to the troops. Amneris tries to convince Ramadés to justify his actions and tell the priests that he is innocent, but he refuses. He prefers to die if her true love is dead (he thinks that Aida died while escaping). The king's daughter begs him to say that he's innocent, even confessing his love for him. He rejects the idea. Finally, Amneris tells him that Amorasno did not survive, but Aida did and was nowhere to be found. Filled with happiness and relief, Radamés accepts his death as log as Aida lives. Amnesis tries but does not succeed.
Radamés does not defend himself when the priests accuse him for revealing deep secrets and being a traitor. He is sentenced to die in a chamber beneath the ceremony temple, that will be his tomb. Amnesis continues attempting to save his love's life, but Ramfis is already decided. Being sealed inside the isolated chamber, Radamés wishes a happy and prosperous life for Aida. He is then surprised by Aida herself, who had sneaked into the chamber when it was still open to receive its victim. Aida tells him that he can't live without him, that he prefers to die with him than live without him. She prefers to die in his arms. The story ends when the couple die in the chamber, knowing that their love will reign in heaven.
Very interesting, isn't it? Not only is the story good, but the music and the singing are extraordinary! The opera itself is just amazing, having so much variety and beauty. I almost cried at the end!
I must say this word: THE SET. The change of set was so incredible! There were different platforms with a variety of designs! The large Egyptian columns, the sculptures, the walls, the numerous stairs, the boulders could descent or ascend in any moment, moving from one set to a completely different set! The end is one of the most interesting: you could see the set of the ceremony temple on top of the chamber set! That is how I knew that there were different platforms. In that scene only the half of each set was visible and you could see the floor of the temple also being the roof of the chamber. Just... wow.
To conclude, I truly recommend you this Opera video, I am sure you will like it as much as I do.
This is it: "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi by The Metropolitan Opera productions, conducted by James Levine.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
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