Dimitri Kavrakos

This was one of the most emotional evenings in Met history—the night Leontyne Price bid farewell to opera. Aida is the role that inspired audiences around the world to acclaim her as the greatest Verdi soprano of her time. And this telecast shows why: the famous soaring phrases that seemed to never end, the shimmering top to her lustrous voice, undimmed by the years. But most of all, there is the ennobling heart and soul Price lavished on every performance—captured here forever. With James Levine conducting the Met orchestra, chorus, and ballet.

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. This 1994 recording, directed by Riccardo Muti, stars Roberto Alagna, Renato Bruson and Andrea Rost.

L’histoire se déroule en Égypte antique, à Memphis et à Thèbes. Une esclave éthiopienne, Aïda, vit à la cour du Pharaon Ramsès III, servant sa fille Amnéris. Toutes les deux sont amoureuses du général égyptien Rhadamès, épris d'Aïda. Au retour d'une campagne militaire contre les Éthiopiens, il ramène comme prisonnier le père de celle-ci, le roi éthiopien Amonastro. Pour le remercier, pharaon lui offre sa fille en mariage.