AÏDA

Grand opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Plot by Mariette Bey. Written in French prose by Camille du Locle. Translated into Italian verse by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Produced in Cairo, Egypt, December 24, 1871; La Scala, Milan, under the composer's direction, February 8, 1872; Théâtre It alien, Paris, April 22, 1876; Covent Garden, London, June 22, 1876; Academy of Music, New York, November 26, 1873; Grand Opéra, Paris, March 22, 1880; Metropolitan Opera House, with Caruso, 1904. Characters | Aïda, an Ethiopian slave | Soprano | | Amneris, daughter of the King of Egypt | Contralto | | Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, father of Aïda | Baritone | | Rhadames, captain of the Guard | Tenor | | Ramphis, High Priest | Ba | | King of Egypt | Ba | | Me enger | Tenor | Priests, soldiers, Ethiopian slaves, prisoners, Egyptians, etc. Time —Epoch of the Pharaohs. Place —Memphis and Thebes. "Aïda" was commi ioned by Is mail Pacha, Khedive of Egypt, for the Italian Theatre in Cairo, which opened in November, 1869. The opera was produced there December 24, 1871; not at the opening of the house, as sometimes is erroneously stated. Its succe was sensational. Equally enthusiastic was its reception when brought out at La Scala, Milan, February 7, 1872, under the direction of Verdi himself, who was recalled thirty-two times and presented with an ivory baton and diamond star with the name of Aïda in rubies and his own in other precious stones. It is an interesting fact that "Aïda" reached New York before it did any of the great European opera houses save La Scala. It was produced at the Academy of Music under the direction of Max Strakosch, November 26, 1873. I am glad to have heard that performance and several other performances of it that season. For the artists who appeared in it gave a representation that for brilliancy has not been surpa ed if, indeed, it has been equalled. In support of this statement it is only nece ary to say that Italo Camp an in i was Rhadames , Victor Maurel Amonasro , and Annie Louise Cary Amneris . No greater artists have appeared in these rôles in this country. Mlle. Torriani, the Aïda , while not so distinguished, was entirely adequate. Nannetti as Ramphis , the high priest, Scolara as the King , and Boy as the Me enger , completed the cast. I recall some of the early comment on the opera. It was said to be Wagner i an. In point of fact "Aïda" is Wagner i an only as compared with Verdi's earlier operas. Compared with Wagner himself, it is Verdian—purely Italian. It was said that the fine melody for the trumpets on the stage in the pageant scene was plagiarized from a theme in the Coronation March of Meyer beer's "Prophète." Slightly reminiscent the pa age is, and, of course, stylistically the entire scene is on Meyer beer i an lines; but these resemblances no longer are of importance. Paris failed to hear "Aïda" until April, 1876, and then at the Théâtre It alien, instead of at the Grand Opéra, where it was not heard until March, 1880, when Maurel was the Amonasro and Édouard de Reszke, later a favourite ba o at the Metropolitan Opera House, the King . In 1855 Verdi's opera, "Les Vêpres Siciliennes" (The Sicilian Vespers) had been produced at the Grand Opéra and occurrences at the rehearsals had greatly angered the composer. The orchestra clearly showed a disinclination to follow the composer's minute directions regarding the manner in which he wished his work interpreted. When, after a conversation with the chef d'orchestre, the only result was plainly an attempt to annoy him, he put on his hat, left the theatre, and did not return. In 1867 his "Don Carlos" met only with a succès d'estime at the Opéra. He had not forgotten these circumstances, when the Opéra wanted to give "Aïda." He withheld permi ion until 1880. But when at last this was given, he a isted at the production, and the public authorities vied in atoning for the slights put upon him so many years before. The President of France gave a banquet in his honour and he was created a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. When the Khedive asked Verdi to compose a new opera especially for the new opera house at Cairo, and inquired what the composer's terms would be, Verdi demanded $20,000. This was agreed upon and he was then given the subject he was to treat, "Aïda," which had been suggested to the Khedive by Mariette Bey, the great French Egypt ologist. The composer received the rough draft of the story. From this Camille du Locle, a former director of the Opéra Comique, who happened to be visiting Verdi at Bu eto, wrote a libretto in French prose, "scene by scene, sentence by sentence," as he has said, adding that the composer showed the liveliest interest in the work and himself suggested the double scene in the finale of the opera. The French prose libretto was translated into Italian verse by Antonio Ghislanzoni, who wrote more than sixty opera librettos, "Aïda" being the most famous. Mariette Bey brought his archeological knowledge to bear upon the production. "He revived Egyptian life of the time of the Pharaohs; he rebuilt ancient Thebes, Memphis, the Temple of Phtah; he designed the costumes and arranged the scenery. And under these exceptional circumstances, Verdi's new opera was produced." Verdi's score was ready a year before the work had its prem ière. The production was delayed by force of circumstances. Scenery and costumes were made by French artists. Before these acce ories could be shipped to Cairo, the Franco-Pru ian war broke out. They could not be gotten out of Paris. Their delivery was delayed accordingly. Does the score of "Aïda" owe any of its charm, pa ion, and dramatic stre to the opportunity thus afforded Verdi of going over it and carefully revising it, after he had considered it finished? Quite po ibly. For we know that he made changes, eliminating, for instance, a chorus in the style of Pal estrin a, which he did not consider suitable to the priesthood of Isis. Even this one change resulted in condensation, a valuable quality, and in leaving the exotic music of the temple scene entirely free to exert to the full its fascination of local colour and atmosphere. The story is unfolded in four acts and seven scenes. Act I. Scene 1. After a very brief prelude, the curtain rises on a hall in the King's palace in Memphis. Through a high gateway at the back are seen the temples and palaces of Memphis and the pyramids. It had been supposed that, after the invasion of Ethiopia by the Egyptians, the Ethiopians would be a long time in recovering from their defeat. But Amonasro , their king, has swiftly rallied the remnants of his defeated army, gathered new levies to his standard, and cro ed the frontier—all this with such extraordinary rapidity that the first news of it has reached the Egyptian court in Memphis through a me enger hot-foot from Thebes with the startling word that the sacred city itself is threatened. IMG:872270115144378713_eames_aida.png:Eames Copyright photo by Dupont Emma Eames as Aïda IMG:872270115144378713_saleza_radames.png:Saléza Copyright photo by Dupont Saléza as Rhadames in “Aïda” While the priests are sacrificing to Isis in order to learn from the godde whom she advises them to choose as leader of the Egyptian forces, Rhadames , a young warrior, indulges in the hope that he may be the choice. To this hope he joins the further one that, returning victorious, he may ask the hand in marriage of Aïda , an Ethiopian slave of the Egyptian King's daughter, Amneris . To these aspirations he gives expre ion in the romance, "Celeste Aïda" (Radiant Aïda). IMG:872270115144378713_music443a.png:Music [ Listen ] Celeste Aïda It ends effectively with the following phrase: IMG:872270115144378713_music443b.png:Music [ Listen ] un trono vicino al sol, un trono vicino al sol He little knows that Aïda is of royal birth or that Amneris herself, the Prince Royal, is in love with him and, having noted the glances he has cast upon Aïda , is fiercely jealous of her—a jealousy that forms the mainspring of the story and leads to its tragic dénouement. A premonition of the emotional forces at work in the plot is given in the "Vieni, O diletta" (Come dearest friend), beginning as a duet between Amneris and Aïda and later becoming a trio for them and Rhadames . In this the Prince feigns friendship for Aïda , but, in asides, discloses her jealous hatred of her. Meanwhile the Egyptian hosts have gathered before the temple. There the King announces that the priests of Isis have learned from the lips of that godde the name of the warrior who is to lead the army— Rhadames ! It is the Prince herself who, at this great moment in his career, places the royal standard in his hands. But amid the acclaims that follow, as Rhadames , to the strains of march and chorus, is conducted by the priests to the temple of Phtah to be invested with the consecrated armour, Amneris notes the fiery look he casts upon Aïda . Is this the reason Rhadames , young, handsome, brave, has failed to respond to her own guarded advances? Is she, a prince , to find a succe ful rival in her own slave? Meanwhile Aïda herself is torn by conflicting emotions. She loves Rhadames . When the multitude shouts "Return victorious!" she joins in the acclamation. Yet it is against her own people he is going to give battle, and the Ethiopians are led by their king, Amonasro , her father. For she, too, is a prince , as proud a prince in her own land as Amneris , and it is because she is a captive and a slave that her father has so swiftly rallied his army and invaded Egypt in a desperate effort to rescue her, facts which for obvious reasons she carefully has concealed from her captors. It is easy to imagine Aïda's agonized feelings since Rhadames has been chosen head of the Egyptian army. If she prays to her gods for the triumph of the Ethiopian arms, she is betraying her lover. If she asks the gods of victory to smile upon Rhadames , she is a traitre to her father, who has taken up arms to free her, and to her own people. Small wonder if she exclaims, as she contemplates her own wretched state: "Never on earth was heart torn by more cruel agonies. The sacred names of father, lover, I can neither utter nor remember. For the one—for the other—I would weep, I would pray!" This scene for Aïda , beginning "Ritorna vincitor" (Return victorious), in which she echoes the acclamation of the martial chorus immediately preceding, is one of the very fine pa ages of the score. The lines to which it is set also have been highly praised. They furnished the composer with opportunity, of which he made full use, to expre conflicting emotions in music of dramatic force and, in its concluding pa age, "Numi pietà" (Pity, kind heaven), of great beauty. IMG:872270115144378713_music445.png:Music [ Listen ] | Numi pietà Del mio soffrir! Speme non v'ha pel mio dolor. | Scene 2. Ramphis , the high priest, at the foot of the altar; priests and prieste es; and afterwards Rhadames are shown in the Temple of Vulcan at Memphis. A mysterious light descends from above. A long row of columns, one behind the other, is lost in the darkne ; statues of various deities are visible; in the middle of the scene, above a platform rises the altar, surmounted by sacred emblems. From golden tripods comes the smoke of incense. A chant of the prieste es, accompanied by harps, is heard from the interior. Rhadames enters unarmed. While he approaches the altar, the prieste es execute a sacred dance. On the head of Rhadames is placed a silver veil. He is invested with consecrated armor, while the priests and prieste es resume the religious chant and dance. The entire scene is saturated with local colour. Piquant, exotic, it is as Egyptian to the ear as to the eye. You see the temple, you hear the music of its devotees, and that music sounds as distinctively Egyptian as if Mariette Bey had unearthed two examples of ancient Egyptian temple music and placed them at the composer's disposal. It is more likely, however, that the themes are original with Verdi and that the Oriental tone colour, which makes the music of the scene so fascinating, is due to his employment of certain intervals peculiar to the music of Eastern people. The interval, which, falling upon Western ears, gives an Oriental clang to the scale, consists of three semi-tones. In the very Eastern sounding themes in the temple scenes in "Aïda," these intervals are G to F-flat, and D to C-flat. The sacred chant, IMG:872270115144378713_music446a.png:Music [ Listen ] twice employs the interval between D and C-flat, the first time descending, the second time ascending, in which latter it sounds more characteristic to us, because we regard the scale as having an upward tendency, whereas in Oriental systems the scale seems to have been regarded as tending downward. In the sacred dance, IMG:872270115144378713_music446b.png:Music [ Listen ] the interval is from G to F-flat. The intervals, where employed in the two music examples just cited, are bracketed. The interval of three semi-tones—the characteristic of the Oriental scale—could not be more clearly shown than it is under the second bracket of the sacred dance. Act II. Scene 1. In this scene, which takes place in a hall in the apartments of Amneris , the Prince adopts strategy to discover if Aïda returns the pa ion which she suspects in Rhadames . Me engers have arrived from the front with news that Rhadames has put the Ethiopians to utter rout and is returning with many trophies and captives. Naturally Aïda is distraught. Is her lover safe? Was her father slain? It is while Aïda's mind and heart are agitated by these questions that Amneris chooses the moment to test her feelings and wrest from her the secret she longs yet dreads to fathom. The Prince is reclining on a couch in her apartment in the palace at Thebes, whither the court has repaired to welcome the triumphant Egyptian army. Slaves are adorning her for the festival or agitating the air with large feather fans. Moorish slave boys dance for her delectation and her attendants sing: | While on thy tre es rain Laurels and flowers interwoven, Let songs of glory mingle With strains of tender love. | In the midst of these festive preparations Aïda enters, and Amneris , craftily feigning sympathy for her lest she be grieving over the defeat of her people and the po ible lo in battle of someone dear to her, affects to console her by telling her that Rhadames , the leader of the Egyptians, has been slain. It is not nece ary for the Prince to watch the girl intently in order to note the effect upon her of the sudden and cruelly contrived announcement. Almost as suddenly, having feasted her eyes on the slave girl's grief, the Prince exclaims: "I have deceived you; Rhadames lives!" "He lives!" Tears of gratitude instead of despair now moisten Aïda's eyes as she raises them to Heaven. "You love him; you cannot deny it!" cries Amneris , forgetting in her furious jealousy her dignity as a Prince . "But know, you have a rival. Yes—in me. You, my slave, have a rival in your mistre , a daughter of the Pharaohs!" Having fathomed her slave's secret, she vents the refined cruelty of her jealous nature upon the unfortunate girl by commanding her to be present at the approaching triumphant entry of Rhadames and the Egyptian army: "Come, follow me, and you shall learn if you can contend with me—you, prostrate in the dust, I on the throne beside the king!" What has just been described is formulated by Verdi in a duet for Amneris and Aïda , "Amore! gaudio tormento" (Oh, love! Oh, joy and sorrow!), which expre es the craftine and subtlety of the Egyptian Prince , the conflicting emotions of Aïda , and the dramatic stre of the whole episode. This phrase especially seems to expre the combined haughtine and jealousy in the attitude of Amneris toward Aïda : IMG:872270115144378713_music448.png:Music [ Listen ] Scene 2. Brilliant indeed is the spectacle to which Aïda is compelled to proceed with the Prince . It is near a group of palms at the entrance to the city of Thebes that the King has elected to give Rhadames his triumph. Here stands the temple of Ammon. Beyond it a triumphal gate has been erected. When the King enters to the cheers of the multitude and followed by his gaudily clad court, he takes his seat on the throne surmounted by a purple canopy. To his left sits Amneris , singling out for her disdainful glances the most unhappy of her slaves. A blast of trumpets, and the victorious army begins its defile past the throne. After the foot soldiers come the chariots of war; then the bearers of the sacred vases and statues of the gods, and a troupe of dancing girls carrying the loot of victory. A great flourish of trumpets, an outburst of acclaim, and Rhadames , proudly standing under a canopy borne high on the shoulders of twelve of his officers, is carried through the triumphal gate and into the presence of his King . As the young hero descends from the canopy, the monarch, too, comes down from the throne and embracing him exclaims: "Savior of your country, I salute you. My daughter with her own hand shall place the crown of laurels upon your brow." And when Amneris , suiting her action to her father's words, crowns Rhadames , the King continues: "Now ask of me whatever you most desire. I swear by my crown and by the sacred gods that nothing shall be denied to you this day!" IMG:872270115144378713_homer_amneris.png:Homer Copyright photo by Dupont Louise Homer as Amneris in “Aïda” IMG:872270115144378713_gall i_aida.png:Galli Copyright photo by Mishkin Rosina Galli in the Ballet of “Aïda” But although no wish is nearer the heart of Rhadames than to obtain freedom for Aïda , he does not consider the moment as yet opportune. Therefore he requests that first the prisoners of war be brought before the King . When they enter, one of them, by his proud mien and spirited carriage, easily stands forth from the rest. Hardly has Aïda set eyes upon him than she utters the startled exclamation, "My father!" It is indeed none other than Amonasro , the Ethiopian king, who, his identity unknown to the Egyptians, has been made captive by them. Swiftly gliding over to where Aïda stands, he whispers to her not to betray his rank to his captors. Then, turning to the Egyptian monarch, he craftily describes how he has seen the king of Ethiopia dead at his feet from many wounds, and concludes by entreating clemency for the conquered. Not only do the other captives and Aïda join in his prayer, but the people, moved by his words and by his noble aspect, beg their king to spare the prisoners. The priests, however, protest. The gods have delivered these enemies into the hands of Egypt; let them be put to death lest, emboldened by a pardon so easily obtained, they should rush to arms again. Meanwhile Rhadames has had eyes only for Aïda , while Amneris notes with rising jealousy the glances he turns upon her hated slave. At last Rhadames , carried away by his feelings, himself joins in the appeal for clemency. "Oh, King ," he exclaims, "by the sacred gods and by the splendour of your crown, you swore to grant my wish this day! Let it be life and liberty for the Ethiopian prisoners." But the high priest urges that even if freedom is granted to the others, Aïda and her father be detained as hostages and this is agreed upon. Then the King , as a crowning act of glory for Rhadames , leads Amneris forth, and addre ing the young warrior, says: " Rhadames , the country owes everything to you. Your reward shall be the hand of Amneris . With her one day you shall reign over Egypt." A great shout goes up from the multitude. Unexpectedly Amneris sees herself triumphant over her rival, the dream of her heart fulfilled, and Aïda bereft of hope, since for Rhadames to refuse the hand of his king's daughter would mean treason and death. And so while all seemingly are rejoicing, two hearts are sad and bewildered. For Aïda , the man she adores appears lost to her forever and all that is left to her, the tears of hopele love; while to Rhadames the heart of Aïda is worth more than the throne of Egypt, and its gift, with the hand of Amneris , is like the unjust vengeance of the gods descending upon his head. This is the finale of the second act. It has been well said that not only is it the greatest effort of the composer, but also one of the grandest conceptions of modern musical and specifically operatic art. The importance of the staging, the magnificence of the spectacle, the diversity of characterization, and the strength of action of the drama all conspire to keep at an unusually high level the inspiration of the composer. The triumphal chorus, "Gloria all'Egitto" (Glory to Egypt), is sonorous and can be rendered with splendid effect. It is preceded by a march. IMG:872270115144378713_music450.png:Music [ Listen ] Then comes the chorus of triumph. IMG:872270115144378713_music451a.png:Music [ Listen ] Voices of women join in the acclaim. IMG:872270115144378713_music451b.png:Music [ Listen ] The trumpets of the Egyptian troops execute a most brilliant modulation from A-flat to B-natural. The reference here is to the long, straight trumpets with three valves (only one of which, however, is used). These trumpets, in groups of three, precede the divisions of the Egyptian troops. The trumpets of the first group are tuned in A-flat. IMG:872270115144378713_music451c.png:Music [ Audio content is not currently supported on your device. When the second group enters and intones the same stirring march theme in B-natural, the enharmonic modulation to a tone higher gives an immediate and vastly effective "lift" to the music and the scene. IMG:872270115144378713_music451d.png:Music [ Audio content is not currently supported on your device. The entrance of Rhadames , borne on high under a canopy by twelve officers, is a dramatic climax to the spectacle. But a more emotional one is to follow. The recognition of King Amonasro by his daughter; the supplication of the captives; the plea of Rhadames and the people in their favour; the vehement protests of the priests who, in the name of the gods of Egypt, demand their death; the diverse pa ions which agitate Rhadames , Aïda , and Amneris ; the hope of vengeance that Amonasro cherishes—all these conflicting feelings are musically expre ed with complete succe . The structure is reared upon Amonasro's plea to the King for mercy for the Ethiopian captives, "Ma tu, re, tu signore po ente" (But thou, O king, thou pui ant lord). IMG:872270115144378713_music452.png:Music [ Listen ] When the singer who takes the rôle of Amonasro also is a good actor, he will know how to convey, between the lines of this supplication, his secret thoughts and unavowed hope for the reconquest of his freedom and his country. After the Egyptian King has bestowed upon Rhadames the hand of Amneris , the chorus, "Gloria all'Egitto," is heard again, and, above its sonorous measures, Aïda's cry: | What hope now remains to me? To him, glory and the throne; To me, oblivion—the tears Of hopele love. | It is largely due to Verdi's management of the score to this elaborate scene that "Aïda" not only has superseded all spectacular operas that came before it, but has held its own against and survived practically all those that have come since. The others were merely spectacular. In "Aïda" the surface radiates and glows because beneath it seethe the fires of conflicting human pa ion. In other operas spectacle is merely spectacle. In "Aïda" it clothes in brilliant habiliments the forces of impending and on-rushing tragedy. Act III. That tragedy further advances toward its consummation in the present act. It is a beautiful moonlight night on the banks of the Nile—moonlight whose silvery rays are no more exquisite than the music that seems steeped in them. IMG:872270115144378713_music453a.png:Music [ Listen ] Half concealed in the foliage is the temple of Isis, from which i ues the sound of women's voices, softly chanting. A boat approaches the shore and out of it steps Amneris and the high priest, with a train of closely veiled women and several guards. The Prince is about to enter upon a vigil in the temple to implore the favour of the godde before her nuptials with Rhadames . For a while after they have entered the temple, the shore seems deserted. But from the shadow of a grove of palms Aïda cautiously emerges into the moonlight. In song she breathes forth memories of her native land: Oh, patria mia!—O ciel i azzurri! (Oh, native land!—Oh, skies of tender blue!). IMG:872270115144378713_music453b.png:Music [ Listen ] O ciel i azzurri, o dolci aure native, The phrase, O patria mia! mai più ti rivedrò (Oh, native land! I ne'er shall see thee more)—a little further on—recalls the famous "Non ti scordar" from the "Miserere" in "Trovatore." Here Rhadames has bid Aïda meet him. Is it for a last farewell? If so, the Nile shall be her grave. She hears a swift footfall, and turning, in expectation of seeing Rhadames , beholds her father. He has fathomed her secret and divined that she is here to meet Rhadames —the betrothed of Amneris ! Cunningly Amonasro works upon her feelings. Would she triumph over her rival? The Ethiopians again are in arms. Again Rhadames is to lead the Egyptians against them. Let her draw from him the path which he intends to take with his army and that path shall be converted into a fatal ambuscade. At first the thought is abhorrent to Aïda ; but her father by craftily inciting her love of country and no le her jealousy and despair, at last is able to wrest consent from her; then draws back into the shadow as he hears Rhadames approaching. This duet of Aïda and Amonasro is and will remain one of the beautiful dramatic efforts of the Italian repertory. The situation is one of those in which Verdi delights; he is in his element. It is difficult to bring Aïda to make the designs of her father agree with her love for the young Egyptian chief. But the subtlety of the score, its warmth, its varied and ably managed expre ion, almost make plausible the submi ion of the young girl to the adjurations of Amonasro , and excusable a decision of which she does not foresee the consequences. To restore the crown to her father, to view again her own country, to escape an ignominious servitude, to prevent her lover becoming the husband of Amneris , her rival,—such are the thoughts which a ail her during this duet, and they are quite capable of disturbing for a moment her better reason. Amonasro sings these phrases, so charming in the Italian: | Rivedrai le foreste imbalsamate, Le fresche valli, i nostri templi d'or! Sposa felice a lui che amasti tanto, Tripudii immensi ivi potrai gioir!... (Thou shalt see again the balmy forests, The green valleys, and our golden temples. Happy bride of him thou lovest so much, Great rejoicing thenceforth shall be thine.) | As she still is reluctant to lure from her lover the secret of the route by which, in the newly planned invasion of her country, the Egyptians expect to enter Ethiopia, Amonasro changes his tactics and conjures up for her in music a vision of the carnage among her people, and finally invokes her mother's ghost, until, in piani imo, dramatically contrasting with the force of her father's savage imprecation, she whispers, O patria! quanto mi cost i! (Oh, native land! how much thou demand est of me!). Amonasro leaves. Aïda awaits her lover. When she somewhat coldly meets Rhadames's renewed declaration of love with the bitter protest that the rites of another love are awaiting him, he unfolds his plan to her. He will lead the Egyptians to victory and on returning with these fresh laurels, he will prostrate himself before the King , lay bare his heart to him, and ask for the hand of Aïda as a reward for his services to his country. But Aïda is well aware of the power of Amneris and that her vengeance would swiftly fall upon them both. She can see but one course to safety—that Rhadames join her in flight to her native land, where, amid forest groves and the scent of flowers, and all forgetful of the world, they will dream away their lives in love. This is the beginning of the dreamy yet impa ioned love duet—"Fuggiam gli ardor i inospiti" (Ah, fly with me). She implores him in pa ionate accents to escape with her. Enthralled by the rapture in her voice, thrilled by the vision of happine she conjures up before him, he forgets for the moment country, duty, all else save love; and exclaiming, "Love shall be our guide!" turns to fly with her. This duet, charged with exotic rapture, opens with recitativo phrases for Aïda . I have selected three pa ages for quotation: "Là tra foreste vergini" (There 'mid the virgin forest groves); "Di fiori profumate" (And 'mid the scent of flowers); and "In estasi la terra scorderem" (In ecstasy the world forgotten). IMG:872270115144378713_music456a.png:Music [ Listen ] Là tra foreste vergini, IMG:872270115144378713_music456b.png:Music [ Listen ] In estasi beate la terra scorderem, IMG:872270115144378713_music456c.png:Music [ Listen ] in estasi la terra scorderem, But Aïda, feigning alarm, asks: "By what road shall we avoid the Egyptian host?" "The path by which our troops plan to fall upon the enemy will be deserted until tomorrow." "And that path?" "The pa of Napata." A voice echoes his words, "The pa of Napata." "Who hears us?" exclaims Rhadames . "The father of Aïda and king of the Ethiopians," and Amonasro i ues forth from his hiding place. He has uncovered the plan of the Egyptian invasion, but the delay has been fatal. For at the same moment there is a cry of "Traitor!" from the temple. It is the voice of Amneris , who with the high priest has overheard all. Amonasro , baring a dagger, would throw himself upon his daughter's rival, but Rhadames places himself between them and bids the Ethiopian fly with Aïda . Amonasro , drawing his daughter away with him, disappears in the darkne ; while Rhadames , with the words, "Priest, I remain with you," delivers himself a prisoner into his hands. Act IV. Scene 1. In a hall of the Royal Palace Amneris awaits the pa age, under guard, of Rhadames to the dungeon where the priests are to sit in judgment upon him. There is a duet between Rhadames and this woman, who now bitterly repents the doom her jealousy is about to bring upon the man she loves. She implores him to exculpate himself. But Rhadames refuses. Not being able to po e Aïda he will die. He is conducted to the dungeon, from where, as from the bowels of the earth, she hears the sombre voices of the priests. Ramfis. (Nel sotterraneo.) Radames—Radames: tu rive last i Della patria i segreti allo straniero.... Sacer. Discolpati! Ramfis. Egli tace. Tutti. Traditor! Ramphis. (In the subterranean hall.) Rhadames, Rhadames, thou didst reveal The country's secrets to the foreigner.... Priests. Defend thyself! Ramphis. He is silent. All. Traitor! The dramatically condemnatory "Traditor!" is a death knell for her lover in the ears of Amneris . And after each accusation, silence by Rhadames , and cry by the priests of "Traitor!" Amneris realizes only too well that his approaching doom is to be entombed alive! Her revulsions of feeling from hatred to love and despair find vent in highly dramatic musical phrases. In fact Amneris dominates this scene, which is one of the most powerful pa ages for mezzo-soprano in all opera. Scene 2. This is the famous double scene. The stage setting is divided into two floors. The upper floor represents the interior of the Temple of Vulcan, resplendent with light and gold; the lower floor a subterranean hall and long rows of arcades which are lost in the darkne . A colo al statue of Osiris, with the hands cro ed, sustains the pilasters of the vault. In the temple Amneris and the prieste es kneel in prayer. And Rhadames ? Immured in the dungeon and, as he thought, to perish alone, a form slowly takes shape in the darkne , and his own name, uttered by the tender accents of a familiar voice, falls upon his ear. It is Aïda . Anticipating the death to which he will be sentenced, she has secretly made her way into the dungeon before his trial and there hidden herself to find reunion with him in death. And so, while in the temple above them the unhappy Amneris kneels and implores the gods to vouchsafe Heaven to him whose death she has compa ed, Rhadames and Aïda , bli ful in their mutual sacrifice, await the end. From "Celeste Aïda," Rhadames's apostrophe to his beloved, with which the opera opens, to "O, terra, addio; addio, valle di pianti!" (Oh, earth, farewell! Farewell, vale of tears!), IMG:872270115144378713_music458.png:Music [ Listen ] O terra addio; addio valle di pianti which is the swan-song of Rhadames and Aïda , united in death in the stone-sealed vault,—such is the tragic fate of love, as set forth in this beautiful and eloquent score by Giuseppe Verdi.