Angel Blue in the title role of Verdi’s Aida Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
The Metropolitan Opera stages a new production of Guiseppe Verdi’s Aïda, one of the most popular operas in the repertoire, with soprano Angel Blue in the title role, and tenor Piotr Beczala as her lover Radamès. The first new production of the opera in 36 years, it is directed by Michael Mayer, and led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Piotr Beczała as Radamès in Verdi’s Aida Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
The opening night cast also features baritone Quinn Kelsey as Aida’s father Amonasro, King of Ethiopia. Mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi is Amneris – daughter of the Egyptian king, a role sung by Morris Robinson – and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy is the High Priest, Ramfis.
Aïda was commissioned in 1869 by the Khediv of Egypt, to celebrate the opening of the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo. The premiere was delayed because the scenery and costumes were unable to be delivered from Paris, due to the siege of the city in 1870-71, during the Franco-Prussian War, and it wasn’t until December 24, 1871, that the opera opened in Cairo.
Act I, Scene 2 of Verdi’s Aida Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
Set in Egypt, the opera was inspired by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette – who provided the scenario that Verdi and his librettist, Antonio Ghislanzoni, adapted into Aida. The original opera takes place during a time of conflict between the Egyptians and the Ethiopians. Tony Award-winning Michael Mayer, who also directed this season’s company-premiere production of Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded, as well as the Met stagings of Verdi’s Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Nico Muhly’s Marnie, has brought his production forward to the early 20th century, and set it around a group of Egyptologists.
Radamès, a captain of the Egyptian guard, is in love with the slave girl Aïda, who has been held captive in Egypt, and is really an Ethiopian princess. She is the daughter of King Amonasro, the sworn enemy of the King of Egypt. Aïda’s mistress, Amneris is also in love with Radamès, and is consumed with jealousy when she discovers that her competitor in love is Aïda. It’s a tale of love, duplicity and, ultimately, tragedy, with Aïda torn between her love for Radamès and that for her country.
Judit Kutasi as Amneris and Angel Blue in the title role of Verdi’s Aida Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
American soprano Angel Blue makes her Met debut role as Aïda. The Financial Times writes that the winner of two Grammy Awards, the 2020 Beverly Sills Award recipient, and the 2022 Richard Tucker Award winner’s ”…. luscious soprano is remarkable for its sheer beauty of tone ….”, and Gramophone says: “This is a voice of youthful refulgence and versatility”. Highlights of her current season will include the role of Mimi in Puccini’s La bohème at the Bayerischer Staatsoper in Munich, a recital with pianist Lang Lang at Carnegie Hall and she will also appear in concert with Los Angeles Opera.
Piotor Beczala has enjoyed a flourishing international career over the past 11 years, with the Polish tenor having appeared in many of the major opera houses of the world. Opera News writes that he “…. has the kind of voice you want to hang medals on …. Beczala’s clarity and cleanliness of tone are the essence of his appeal.” This season he will be appearing as Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca at Wiener Staatsoper, and Don José in Bizet’s Carmen at Bayerischer Staatsoper, a role which he sang at the Met last season.
Act II, Scene 2 of Verdi’s Aida Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera
Soprano Christina Nilsson makes her Met debut in the title role for five performances in March. Piotr Beczała and Brian Jagde alternate as the soldier Radamès. Mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi, following her 2024 debut in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, shares the role of Amneris, with Elīna Garanča. Quinn Kelsey shares the role of Amonasro with Roman Burdenko (in his Met debut), Michael Chioldi, and Amartuvshin Enkhbat, and Dmitry Belosselskiy shares the role of Ramfis with Alexander Vinogradov and Morris Robinson. Robinson also shares the role of the King of Egypt with Krzysztof Bączyk, making his role debut.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in Verdi’s Aïda on December 31st. The season runs through May 9th, 2025 with Alexander Soddy and John Keenan sharing conducting duties with Maestro Nézet-Séguin.
Angel Blue in the title role of Verdi’s Aida Photo: Paola Kudacki / Met Opera
Further information and details of ticket reservations may be found on the Metropolitan Opera website. Tickets may also be reserved by calling 212.362.6000.
The Met: Live in HD transmission of Aïda is to be broadcast in cinemas worldwide on January 25th – see this link for details.
Information sourced from:
Metropolitan Opera program notes
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