Verdi's spectacular opera in four acts follows the story of an Egyptian army captain, Radames, who falls in love with an enslaved Ethiopian, Aida. He brings her to the Egyptian palace in hopes of sparing her from desolate labor, inevitably drawn to her despite her national origin being that of a bitter enemy. The jealousy of Amneris, daughter of the pharaoh, intrudes as her love for Radames leads her to interfere. Caught between a political battle and their love, both Radames and Aida struggle to protect both their nation and heart. Tragically, Radames is trapped by his allegiance to Aida in the eyes of his own country, and is sentenced to death. Aida joins him in his tomb and they spend their last moments together. One of the most widely performed operas in the canon, Aida is an archetypal love story set in the heart of political struggle.
