Aida

In 1869, Verdi receives an offer he cannot refuse. The Kadib of Egypt orders an opera for the opening of the Suez Canal. 56 years old, Verdi, who has already reached peaks of fame and popularity in Italy, demands 20,000 dollars for the piece, before he even wrote a single note. The Egyptian ruler did not hesitate - he paid the amount (now parallel to ten times) for the privilege to perform the work only on the canal's initiation ceremony. Verdi kept the rest of the rights. Verdi who was not interested in writing the piece in the first place, had to agree and took the mission. He did not regret it ever after.

The libretto to the opera excited Verdi very much, and he found himself putting his entire self into the work ordered from him. He composed the most delightful arias and duets for it, and made it the most elaborate and grandiose opera Italy has ever known. It is full of mass scenes and the trumpet cheer that opened its premiere in Cairo hints what the work would be like. It became the height of Verdi's success, but he did not come to Cairo. The man was known to detest cruises, and he did not want to sail to the opening that became a global event. A few weeks later Verdi arrived at the Italian opening night in Milan, where he experienced more love from the crowd than ever before. Now he truly felt the love of his people.

Thus, Verdi's so-called "Egyptian" opera became one of the best-loved ones in the opera repertory, certainly one of the most extravagant. In Egypt, the opera is played every few years, and it is always a very prestigious media event. The connection between the Pharaoh-like beauty and the exotic nature of today's Egypt, combined with the stage design, the costumes and of course - the wonderful music, continue to fascinate the crowd and bring it time and time again to "Aida". Even the name 'Aida' became a very common one in modern Egypt.

The opera tells of Aida, daughter of the King of Ethiopia, falling captive to Redames, the new commander of the Egyptian army, discovering her rival is Princess Amneris. Redames brings Aida's father as a prisoner, and the father succeeds to persuade her to deceive her lover so he would give away military secrets. Amneris denounces Redames and he is sentenced to death by being buried alive in a pyramid. Aida sneaks into his grave, and they die together, happy, as Amneris weeps outside.