Two nations are at war, but in the middle of the battlefield a far more intimate drama is unfolding, and one that could have unexpected consequences. The Egyptian princess Amneris loves the commander Radamès. His love, however, belongs to the captive Aida, who no one knows is the princess of the hostile Ethiopian land. Unbeknownst to any of them, they will soon face a choice that will decide a matter of life and death…

Verdi’s Aida is one of his masterpieces and one that lacks none of the customary ingredients of romantic Italian opera – love, jealousy, political intrigue, large chorus scenes and inescapable tragic death. It goes without saying that a great singing cast, in this case including Csilla Boross, Sung Kyu Park, Luis Cansino and Aleš Jenis, goes hand in hand with this. This is also to be the first time that our company is to collaborate with our junior ballet company National Theatre Brno 2 on this production. It was Verdi who usually chose the themes to be set to his music, but in this case an offer came from outside. The opera was originally commissioned by the Egyptian Viceroy Isma´il Pasha for the ceremonial opening of the Suez Canal and for the newly built Khedivial Opera House in Cairo. Verdi was initially hesitant, but the theme of ancient Egypt based on a story by archaeologist Auguste Mariette finally attracted his attention, not because of the pomp it offered, but because of the intimate drama hidden beneath the layers of political intrigue. Thanks to this, he wrote a captivating story that remains relevant to this day and is full of impressive music, such as famous arias such as “Celeste Aida”, its triumphal march and the opera’s final heartbreaking quartet. Productions usually focus on the secret lovers Radamès and Aida, but it is interesting to look at the whole story through the eyes of Amneris and her love for Radamès, whom she is determined to win at any cost, unaware that the price will ultimately be human lives, including the life of her chosen one.

Premiere on 26 September 2025 at the Janáček Theatre

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