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- Herausgeber: Flying Dutchman
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018
AIDA - Opera in four Acts (Full Text / Libretto EN-IT), Synopsis, Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni (ENGLISH – Italian), Comments, VIDEO-Links to YouTube, Giuseppe Verdi (Biography), Friezes and drawings of ancient Egypt, Pictures of VERONA and Arena, small Candles.
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Giuseppe Verdi
AIDA
Table of contents
AIDA
Synopsis
Characters / Personaggi
Text - ACT One
ACT Two
ACT Three
ACT Four
Libretto - ATTO Primo
ATTO Secondo
ATTO Terzo
ATTO Quarto
Comments
Giuseppe Verdi
VIDEO-Links
Pictures of Verona and Arena
"Aida" at Arena
"Aida"
Juliet’s balcony
The Roman Theatre
Bridges over the Adige
Small candles
OPERA Smart
AIDA
Libretto - Full Text
Synopsis
(short)
ACT I
A hall in the King’s palace at Memphis.
The high priest Ramfis informs Radamès, the captain of the guards, that the Ethiopians have rebelled and are threatening the Nile valley. The goddess Isis has just told him the name of the man who is to command the Egyptian army, and the high priest goes off to inform the King.
Left alone, Radamès cherishes the secret hope that he himself has been selected and revels in the thought of his glory and above all of Aida the Ethiopian slave whom he passionately loves (‘Celeste Aida’). The expression on his face does not escape the notice of Amneris, the King’s daughter, who secretly loves him and fears a rival. When Aida enters, Radamès’s agitation and that of the slave herself heighten Amneris’s suspicions.
Preceded by guards, ministers and priests, the King enters. A Messenger tells of the invasion by the Ethiopians who, led by their king Amonasro, are about to attack Thebes. The King informs the assembled company, who invoke war, that Isis has chosen Radamès to command the army. Radamès exults (‘Su! del Nilo al sacro lido’). Amneris hands him a flag and everyone exhorts him to return as the winner (‘Ritorna vincitor!’). Aida alone is desperate. For she cannot hope to see her people defeated and Amonasro, her father, dragged in chains, or to lose her beloved Radamès.
Interior of the temple of Vulcan at Memphis.
Ramfis and the priests stand beneath the altar. From within is heard the song of the priestesses invoking the god Fthà. Radamès is ushered into the temple. While the priestesses dance, a veil is spread over the army chiefs head and he is invested with the sacred arms. Ramfis entrusts to him the fate of Egypt.
ACT II
A room in Amneris’s apartment.
While Moorish slaves dance, Amneris has herself attired by her slave girls, in preparation for the triumphal festivities in honour of the conqueror Radamès (‘Chi mai fra gl’inni e i plausi’). Aida enters, looking shaken. Amneris is suspicious and pretends to share her sorrow over the defeat of the Ethiopian people (‘Fu la sorte dell’armi a’ tuoi funesta’). And when she gives her the false news that Radamès has been slain in battle, Aida’s desperation confirms that the slave is her rival in love. The two women confront each other. In a fury, Amneris threatens Aida and forces her to attend her approaching triumph.
An entrance to the city of Thebes.
The King enters with his retinue, and sits on the throne. Next to him are the princess Amneris with her slaves and Aida. The people sing the praises of Egypt, Isis and the King (‘Gloria all’Egitto, ad Iside’). With a fanfare, the victorious army files past the King. At the end of this triumphal procession comes Radamès. Amneris places a laurel crown on his head and the King invites him to ask for whatever he wishes.
Aida catches sight of her father Amonasro, dressed as an ordinary officer, among the Ethiopian prisoners. She embraces him but, in order not to betray him, does not reveal his royal identity. Amonasro presents himself to the King and appeals for clemency to his conquered people (‘Ma tu, Re, tu signore possente’). The Egyptians commiserate with the prisoners, but Ramfis and the priests advise the King to show no mercy.
At this point Radamès intervenes to spare the lives and freedom of the defeated Ethiopians. The King consents and proclaims – on the advice of Ramfis – that Aida and her father alone shall be held, in token of peace. He then grants the hand of Amneris to Radamès, who shall one day rule over Egypt. Amneris’s exultance is echoed by Aida’s despair.
ACT III
The banks of the Nile.
From the temple of Isis are heard songs in honour of the goddess. And off a boat step Amneris, Ramfis, veiled women, and guards. It is the eve of the marriage, and Amneris goes to the temple to pray. Aida enters, covered by a veil. She awaits Radamès, who has arranged a tryst with her there. In the meantime the girl muses on her frustrated dream of love and the beauties of her homeland never to be seen again (‘O patria mia’).
Her father Amonasro appears. Having noticed her feelings for Radamès, he puts before her the prospect of a return home and of happiness in love (‘Rivedrai le foreste imbalsamate’). But first the Egyptians must be defeated. He therefore asks her to obtain by fraud from Radamès the secret route his army will be taking. Aida is reluctant, but eventually yields to Amonasro’s insistence when he calls her a slave to the Pharaohs and threatens to repudiate her.
Amonasro now hides. Radamès enters, and confides to Aida that he is hoping for another victory, which will enable him to obtain permission from the King to marry her as a reward (‘Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida’). Aida proposes instead that he flee with her to Ethiopia, where they can live happily (‘Fuggiam gli arbori inospiti”). Radamès hesitates, but she persuades him and they prepare to elope (‘Si, fuggiam da queste mura’). Aida asks Radamès how they can escape the army, and he replies that until the next day the gorge of Nàpata will be safe. When Amonasro hears this name, he emerges and reveals that he is the king of the Ethiopians. Radamès is petrified and realises he has betrayed his country.
When Amneris comes out of the temple and accuses Radamès of betrayal, Amonasro leaps to kill her. But Radamès steps between, and manages to prevent him striking her. He lets Aida and her father escape and gives himself up to Ramfis.
ACT IV
A hall in the King’s palace.
Amneris is desperate. Radamès is about to be tried for treason. She still loves him and is determined to do her utmost to save him. She has him brought into her presence and begs him to clear himself of the charges against him (‘Già i sacerdoti adunansi’). But Radamès refuses. He declares that his honour is untarnished and that he is resolved to die, having lost Aida. Amneris reveals that the girl is alive and free, and promises to have his life spared if he will renounce her (‘Chi ti salva, sciagurato’). But Radamès reiterates his decision.
Amneris sees the priests go down to the dungeon to pronounce their sentence. Accused of treason, desertion and abuse of the King’s trust, Radamès refuses to defend himself and is condemned to be buried alive. In despair, Amneris curses the priests.
On the upper floor, interior of the temple of Vulcan; on the lower floor, a dungeon.
Two priests seal the dungeon in which Radamès is entombed. In the darkness he hears a cry and glimpses a figure moving towards him. It is Aida, who had crept in earlier, to die in the arms of her beloved (‘Morir! si pura e bella!’). As the angel of death approaches (‘Vedi?... di morte l’angelo’), they bid farewell to earthly life and prepare for heaven (‘O terra addio; addio, valle di pianti...’). In the temple Amneris, in mourning, prays to Isis for Radamès’s soul.
[ Translation by Rodney Stringer
Archivio Teatro La Scala]
Characters / Personaggi
Personaggi
CHORUS: Priests, Priestesses, Ministers, Captains, Soldiers, Functionarises, Slaves and Ethiopian Prisoners, Egyptian people.
The action takes place at Memphis and at Thebes during the reign of the Pharaohs.
PERSONAGGI
IL RE D‘EGITTO BassoAMNERIS, sua figliaMezzosopranoAIDA, schiava etiope SopranoRADAMÈS, Capitano delle guardie TenoreRAMFIS, Capo dei sacerdotiBassoAMONASRO, Re d’Etiopia e padre di Aida BaritonoUN MESSAGGERO TenoreLA GRAN SACERDOTESSA SopranoCORO: Sacerdoti, Sacerdotesse, Ministri, Capitani, Soldati, Funzionari, Schiavi e Prigionieri etiopi, Popolo egizio ecc.
L'azione ha luogo a Menfi e a Tebe all'epoca della potenza dei Faraoni.
Text - ACT One
(English)
Prelude
SCENE I
A Hall in the Palace of the King at Memphis.
Left and right, a colonnade with statues and flowering shrubs. Rear, a great door beyond which can be seen the temples and palaces of Memphis and the Pyramids.
Radamès and Ramfis.
RAMFIS
Yes, rumour has it that Ethiopia dares
to defy us again and to threaten the Nile Valley
and Thebes. Soon a messenger
will bring the truth.
RADAMÈS
Have you consulted
holy Isis?
RAMFIS
She has named
the commander-in-chief
of the Egyptian armies.
RADAMÈS
Oh happy man!
RAMFIS ( looking intently at Radamès)
Youthful and valiant is he. Now I bear the divine
commands to the King.
( Exit)
RADAMÈS
If I were
that warrior! If my dreams
were to come true! A valiant army
led by me… and victory… and the acclamations
of all Memphis! And to return to you, my sweet Aida,
crowned with laurels…
to tell you: for you I fought, for you I conquered!
Heavenly Aida, form divine,
mystical garland of light and flowers,
of my thoughts you are the queen,
you are the light of my life.
I would return to you your lovely sky,
the gentle breezes of your native land;
a royal crown on your brow I would set,
build you a throne next to the sun.
Heavenly Aida, form divine,
mystical gleam of light and flowers, etc.
( Amneris enters)
AMNERIS
Such unwonted joy
in your gaze! What
noble courage shines in your face!
Oh, how much to be envied
is that woman whose longed for image
could awaken in you such a flame of rapture!
RADAMÈS
My heart was revelling
in a propitious dream. Today the goddess
has pronounced the name of the warrior who will lead
the Egyptian armies in the field... Oh, if I were
chosen for such an honour!
AMNERIS
Did no other dream,
more gentle… more sweet,
speak to your heart? In Memphis have you
( in a low voice)
no desires... no hopes?
RADAMÈS
I? (What a question!
Perhaps... she has discovered
the hidden love that bums in my heart...
The name of her slave
she has read in my thoughts!)
AMNERIS
(Ah, woe, if another love
should burn in his heart!
Woe if my gaze penetrates
that fatal mystery!
Woe if my gaze penetrates, etc.)
RADAMÈS
(Perhaps she has read my thoughts!)
RADAMÈS
( seeing Aida as she enters)
It is she!
AMNERIS
(He is troubled… and how
he looked at her!
Aida!... Could she
perhaps be my rival?)
AMNERIS ( turning to Aida)
Come, my dearest, come hither;
you are neither slave nor servant
here where in sweet enchantment
I called you sister...
You weep? Reveal the secret
of your tears to me.
AIDA
Alas, I hear the dreadful
cry of war raging!
For my unhappy country,
for myself… for you I fear.
AMNERIS
Do you speak the truth?
No graver care disturbs you?
(Aida casts down her eyes and tries to hide her confusion)
(Tremble, oh wicked slave!
lest into your heart I penetrate!
Ah, tremble lest I learn the truth
from that weeping and blushing!)
RADAMÈS ( observing Amneris)
(In her face flash…
anger and suspicion.
Woe if our secret love
she should read in our hearts!)
AIDA
(Ah! no, not alone or my country
does my heart weep;
the tears that I weep are tears
of hapless love!)
The King appears, preceded by his guard and followed by Ramfis, ministers, priests, captains and others.
KING
A high cause brings you together,
oh loyal Egyptians, around your king.
From the Ethiopian borders a messenger
has just arrived. He brings grave news.
Be pleased to hear him... ( to an officer)
Let the messenger stand forth!
MESSENGER
The sacred soil of Egypt is invaded
by the barbarous Ethiopians. Our fields
have been laid waste... the crops burned… and
emboldened by easy victory, the plunderers
are already marching on Thebes.
RADAMÈS, KING, RAMFIS, PRIESTS, MINISTERS, CAPTAINS
Do they dare so much!
MESSENGER
A warrior indomitable and ferocious,
Amonasro, leads them.
RADAMÈS, KING, RAMFIS, PRIESTS, MINISTERS, CAPTAINS
The King! </ [...]
