The Metropolitan opens its latest Verdi opera of the season Friday with Aida.
The composer's epic masterwork takes place in ancient Egypt and the story is driven by a war between Egypt and Ethiopia and a love triangle featuring Aida, a slave (and unbeknownst to others is also the princess of Ethiopia), Egyptian General Radames who loves Aida, and Egyptian princess Amneris who loves Radames and owns Aida. The music ranges from the pomposity of major choral sections in its first half to more intimate moments in its second half. The work hints at Egyptian flavor and is thoroughly melodic.
Singing the title role will be Liudmyla Monastryska who will also be making her Met debut Friday night. The soprano sang the role successfully at the Royal Opera in London.
Playing her lover will be tenor Marco Berti who recently sang Puccini's Turandot at the Met. He sang the role of Radames for the first time in 2007 and has not sung it since.
Playing the role of Amneris will be Met staple Olga Borodina. She sang the role at the Met for the first in time in 1998 and most recently sang the role in 2007.
Alberto Mastromarino will be singing his first Amonasro at the Met while Stefan Kocan will sing the role of the high priest Ramfis. Fabio Luisi will conduct the opera.
The opera runs through December 28 with a December 15 matinee being broadcast in HD to thousands of movie theaters around the world. Roberto Alagna takes over for Marco Berti on December 12. Soprano Hui He takes on the lead role for the final three performances of run starting December 19. George Gagnidze takes over the role of Amonasro on December 12 and Mezzo Soprano Dolora Zajick sings the role of Amneris starting on December 19.
For more information on the performances, check out the Met Opera's main page HERE.