Aprile Millo

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.

Verdi's opera performed by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by James Levine.

This tribute to James Levine, first shown on PBS, was only part of that glorious evening. Here we have the whole performance, up to three hours. I could not stop watching these discs. Let me say this much; Levine has done for the Met, making it the premier opera house in the world, what Karajan did with the Berlin, making it one of the finest orchestras ever. So sit back and enjoy.

Pharaoh's daughter Amneris loves general Radames, but he loves slave Aida. Aida's father leads the Ethiopian army to invade Egypt. When he's captured, he wants Aida to gain military secrets from Radames.