- Aida
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This article is about the opera, Aida. For other uses of the term, see Aida (disambiguation)
Aida is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a story by Auguste Mariette. It was first performed at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on December 24, 1871.
Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, commissioned Verdi to write the opera to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, paying him 80,000 francs, but the premiere was delayed because of Franco-Prussian War. The opera was met with great acclaim when it finally opened and continues to be a staple of the standard operatic repertoire. There are many recordings of it, and it is frequently performed.
Contents [hide]
1 Characters
2 Plot
2.1 ACT I
2.2 ACT II
2.3 ACT III.
2.4 ACT IV.
3 References
4 Musical
Characters
Aida, an Ethiopian slave, (soprano)
The King of Egypt, (bass)
Amneris, Daughter of the King, (mezzo-soprano)
Radames, Captain of the Guard, (tenor)
Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, (baritone)
Ramfis, High Priest, (bass)
A messenger, (tenor)
Priests, priestesses, ministers, captains, soldiers, officials, Ethiopians, slaves and prisoners, Egyptians (chorus)
Plot
Synopsis: Aida, an Ethiopian princess, is captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. A military commander, Radames, struggles to choose between his love for her and his loyalty to the Pharaoh. To complicate the story further, Radames is loved by the Pharaoh's daughter Amneris, although he does not return the feeling.
ACT I
Scene I: A hall in the king's palace; through the rear gate the pyramids and temples of Memphis are seen.
Aida, the daughter of the Ethiopian King Amonasro, lives at Memphis as a slave. Her Egyptian captors are unaware of her true identity. Her father has made an incursion into Egypt to deliver her from servitude. But since her capture, Aida has fallen in love with Radames, a young warrior (Romanza, Radames: "Heavenly Aïda"). She has a dangerous rival in Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian king. (Duet, Radames, Amneris: "In thy visage I trace.") Incited by Amneris, the high priest Ramfis (Terzett, Aida, Amneris, Radames: "Oh fate o'er Egypt looming") declares that Radames has been selected by Isis to be the leader of the army against Amonasro. (Battle Hymn: "On ! Of Nilus' sacred river, guard the shores.") Aida's heart is torn between her love for her father and her love for Radames. (Scene, Aïda: "Return a conqueror.")
Scene II: Temple of Vulcan. In the center an altar illuminated by a mysterious light from above.
Solemn ceremonies and dance of priestesses. (Chorus of priestesses: "O mighty Ptha.") Installation of Radames to the office of commander-in-chief. (Prayer, Ramfis and chorus: "O mighty one, guard and protect!")
ACT II
Scene I: A hall in Amneris' apartment.
Amneris' chamber. Festal dances and music. (Chorus of women: "Our songs his glory praising.") Amneris receives her slave Aida and cunningly tricks her into professing her love for Radames by lying and declaring that Ramades has fallen in battle. Aida's distress upon hearing this news betrays her love of Ramades. (Scene and duet, Amneris, Aida: "The chances of war afflict thy people, poor Aida;" Aida: "O love, O joy tormenting.")
Scene II: Outside the city walls at the grand Gate of Thebes.
Radames returns victorious. (Chorus, king and people: "Glory to Egypt, to Isis!") Grand triumphal march. The Egyptian king decrees that on this day the triumphant Ramades may have anything he wishes. The Ethiopian captives are marched in. Amonasro appears among them. Aida immediately rushes to her father, but their true identities are still unknown to the Egyptians. Amonasro declares that the Ethiopian king has been slain in battle. (Amonasro: "This my garment has told you already.") Out of his love for Aida, Ramades uses the King's grant to release the prisoners. The grateful King of Egypt declares him his successor and the betrothed of his daughter. Aida and Amonasro remain as hostages to ensure that the Ethiopians do not avenge their defeat.
[edit]
ACT III.
Scene: On the banks of the Nile, near the temple of Isis.
(Chorus of priests and priestesses: "O thou who to Osiris art...") Amonasro and Aida are held as hostages (Aria, Aida: "Oh, my dear country!") and he forces her to learn from Radames the position of the Egyptian army. (Duet, Aida, Amonasro: "Once again shalt thou gaze.") Radames has only seemingly consented to become the husband of Amneris, and is persuaded through love for Aida to give her the information required by her father. (Duet, Radames, Aida: "Again I see thee.") When Amonasro reveals his identity and flees with Aida. the despairing Radames allows himself to be taken prisoner. (Terzett, Amonasro, Aida, Radames: "I am dishonoured.")
ACT IV.
Scene 1: A hall in the Temple of Justice. To one side is the door leading to Radames' prison cell.
Amneris (Scene, Amneris: "My hated rival has escaped me") desires to save Radames, but he repulses her (Duet, Amneris, Radames: "Now to the hall the priests proceed"). His trial takes place offstage; he will not speak in his own defense, and is condemned to death, while Amneris, who remains onstage, pleads with the priests to show him mercy. The sentence is that he shall be buried alive. Amneris curses the priests as Radames is taken away. (Judgment scene, Amneris, Ramfis and chorus: "Heavenly spirit, descend.")
Scene II: The lower portion of the stage shows the burial place in the temple of Vulcan; the upper portion represents the temple itself.
Aida has hidden herself in the crypt to die with Radames. (Scene and duet, Radames, Aida: "The fatal stone now closes over me.") They accept their terrible fate (Radames: "To die, so pure and lovely"), bid farewell to earth and its sorrows, and await the Dawn, while Amneris weeps and prays above their tomb in the midst of the priestly ceremonies, and the jubilant dance of the priestesses. (Finale, chorus of priests and priestesses: "Almighty Ptha.")
References
Plot after The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version. and the 6th edition of The Victrola Guide to the Opera.
Musical
Aida was later used as the basis and title of a musical drama in two acts from Disney Theatrical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. The Broadway production ran in the Palace Theatre between 2000 and 2004. It is currently running as a national tour.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aida
阿伊達
四幕七景歌劇
音樂：朱塞培‧威爾第
劇本：安東尼奧‧季斯蘭佐尼
根據法國古埃及考古學家芳思華‧奧古斯特‧斐迪南‧馬里耶特原著改編
首演：1871.12.24，埃及開羅歌劇院
《劇中主要人物》
阿伊達(Aida)／伊索比亞公主.........................................................女高音
拉達梅斯(Radames)／埃及軍官......................................................男高音
安奈瑞斯(Amneris)／埃及公主...................................................次女高音
朗費斯(Ramfis)／埃及大祭司........................................................男低音
阿摩納斯洛(Amonasro)／伊索比亞國王........................................男中音
埃及法老王.....................................................................................男低音
祭司、僧侶、軍官、戰士、埃及民眾、衣索比亞奴隸等..........合唱團
《劇情簡介》
時空：西元前1230年，古埃及法老王時期
第一幕
第一景 曼菲斯神殿大廳
大祭司朗費斯和年輕的埃及軍官拉達梅斯來到神殿裡，時值南邊的衣索比亞來犯。朗費斯告知拉達梅斯：神明們已經指定要由一位年輕軍官率領埃及大軍出征討伐，拉達梅斯則在心中暗想：如果他是那位軍官該有多好，一旦出征勝利，他就可以把榮耀獻給心愛的阿伊達。(詠歎調：聖潔的阿伊達)
埃及公主安奈瑞斯走進神殿大廳，她看見拉達梅斯心神不定，想猜出其心中秘密，而拉達梅斯則是小心翼翼，不讓安奈瑞斯看出真象。此時，阿伊達登場，安奈瑞斯瞧見阿伊達與拉達梅斯四目交錯、神情稍有異樣，心中不免起疑，不由得對阿伊達起了戒心與妒意。(三重唱)
埃及法老王在朗費斯及祭司們陪同之下來到神殿，法老王當眾宣佈：神明已經指定由拉達梅斯擔任此次出征的統帥，全體高唱出征之歌，向入侵的衣索比亞軍隊宣戰。待眾人離去後，阿伊達心裡痛苦萬分，她懊惱剛才竟然也隨著人群高呼、預祝拉達梅斯勝利歸來，而拉達梅斯此次出征就是要抵抗父親─衣索比亞國王─的侵略；現在的阿伊達陷入兩難狀況，因為她不論祈求神明保祐任何一方，結果都只會為自己帶來痛苦。她甚至甘願一死，了卻一切痛苦。(詠歎調：勝利歸來！)
第二景 神殿祭壇
神殿裡，女祭司歌頌埃及神明的全能，並在祭壇前向神明獻上一段舞蹈。大祭司朗費斯帶著剛剛被任命為出征大將軍的拉達梅斯來此祈求神明護祐，幫助埃及大軍打敗前來侵犯的衣索比亞軍隊，以衛家邦。
─ 第一幕落 ─
第二幕
第一景 埃及公主寢宮
在奴婢們環俟之下，公主安奈瑞斯舒服地躺在長椅上，等待拉達梅斯率領埃及大軍出征勝利，凱旋歸來。 小黑奴們還特地獻上一段舞蹈，取悅公主。
未久，安奈瑞斯看見阿伊達慢慢走來，她命令旁人退下，只留下她和阿伊達單獨對話。安奈瑞斯首先假意地問候阿伊達， 是否為了祖國(衣索比亞)的敗仗而憂心忡忡？但在言談中，安奈瑞斯逐漸看出：令阿伊達掛心的，卻是一樁愛情； 安奈瑞斯不斷刺探阿伊達，甚至還捏造謊言，說是拉達梅斯已經戰死在沙場上。阿伊達至此終於表露實情， 她的確深愛著拉達梅斯，並不惜以情敵之姿和安奈瑞斯對抗，但隨即她又想起自己目前的身份， 轉而請求安奈瑞斯的寬恕。
安奈瑞斯在確定阿伊達與拉達梅斯的關係之後，心中不免燃起妒火，而阿伊達向她跪地求饒，更增加她的虛榮感和憤怒； 在告知阿伊達實情─拉達梅斯並沒有戰死、還將率領大軍凱旋歸來─之後，安奈瑞斯丟下一句狠話：「有種就和我在情戰上決戰吧！」 隨即轉身離去，只留下獨自啜泣的阿伊達。
第二景 提伯城門廣場
群眾夾道歡呼埃及大軍勝利歸來。埃及國王和公主安奈瑞斯在祭司們和軍士的簇擁下，也來到廣場前，迎接出征凱旋的軍隊。 (凱旋場景)
拉達梅斯將戰利品─包括衣索比亞戰犯在內─獻給埃及國王，阿伊達赫然發現自己的父親─衣索比亞國王阿摩納斯洛─也在戰犯群中。 阿摩納斯洛要阿伊達不要聲張他的真實身份，只說衣索比亞國王已經為國捐軀；他並且請求埃及國王大發慈悲，饒恕戰犯們。 埃及國王為了和平與安全起見，在大祭司朗費斯的建議下，只留下阿摩納斯洛，其餘戰犯一概釋放， 同時國王為了答謝拉達梅斯為國盡力盡忠，也將安奈瑞斯許配給這位統率大將軍。安奈瑞斯聞言得意洋洋， 而阿伊達在一旁見狀卻只有失望和傷心。
─ 第二幕落 ─
第三幕 尼羅河畔神殿前
月光下的尼羅河畔出奇的寧靜。埃及公主安奈瑞斯在大祭司朗費斯的帶領下來到神殿，在她和拉達梅斯的婚禮舉行之前，祈求眾神賜予寵愛和祝福。眾人進入神殿後，阿伊達也悄悄來到神殿前，等待拉達梅斯前來相會。阿伊達擔心拉達梅斯約她來此是要向她告別，果真如此的話，她將選擇尼羅河底作為終身之所，到時將永不得再見讓她思念的故鄉(詠歎調：我的祖國)。
此時，阿摩納斯洛也悄然來到此地，他要阿伊達從拉達梅斯口中套出埃及大軍進攻衣索比亞的秘密通道；在父親的親情逼迫與愛情掙扎之下，阿伊達只好勉強答應。稍後，當拉達梅斯前來赴約時，阿伊達以愛情相誘，終使拉達梅斯不自覺吐露軍機，而被躲藏在樹後的阿摩納斯洛竊聽到埃及國防機密。就在阿伊達父女準備要帶拉達梅斯逃亡時，卻正好被從神殿中走出來的安奈瑞斯及大祭司撞個正著，拉達梅斯束手就擒，而阿伊達父女則落荒逃去。
第四幕
第一景 神殿大廳
洩露軍機的拉達梅斯此時已被收押，靜候審判。安奈瑞斯想要相助搭救，卻被拒絕，因為此時拉達梅斯的心、 甚至連名譽和性命都早已全給了阿伊達，如今他只想一死，也算是對心愛的阿伊達所做的犧牲奉獻。
從神殿地牢裡傳來祭司們質問拉達梅斯為何洩露機密的聲音，但拉達梅斯完全不做抗辯，只等待最後宣判的來臨。 最後則由大祭司朗費斯宣佈神明的旨意─拉達梅斯將被處以活埋的極刑；安奈瑞斯聞言，痛責祭司們的無情， 但大祭司仍堅持叛國者必須接受懲罰，無可赦免。
第二景 神殿地牢
地牢裡暗無天日，拉達梅斯思念起阿伊達，但不知她目前下落如何。忽然他感覺到他不是獨自一人在地牢中， 原來是阿伊達在先前已經悄悄潛入，只為等待在愛人懷裡相擁而終。在甜蜜的二重唱裡，命咧袢∽吡诉@對戀人的生命，卻留給他們永恆的愛情。
─ 劇終 ─
http://www.opera.org.tw/opera_c/aida_c.htm
=====
是啊，《阿伊达》是一部仪式剧，也是为了一个盛典而作的，威尔第
没有亲自去指挥，关于首场还弄了些不快。
那时法意之意有些革命联系。。。
后来夸大的东西，我确实在歌剧中不看不出来。仪式也演得要么过分
喧哗，要么生硬无比。唉，就剩那段终曲二重唱了。
http://yule.sohu.com/87/65/column212576587.shtml
xw