"24 December 1871" "At the Khedivial theatre, Cairo is performed for the first time "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi:" "A memorable event that will leave indelible traces in the history of art:" "The desperate love story of Aida and Radames will live for ever through the immortal music of Verdi:" "From the distant borders of Ethiopia, a patrol of the Egyptian army, rides non-stop on its way from land to land, the echo of a war that has flared like lightning:" "The news that hordes invaded the land of their country, must be brought as soon as possible to Memphis: the capital:" "Where the Pharaoh and the council of priests of Isis take inspiration from the Goddess, to appoint the supreme commander of the army:" "And here in Memphis, is the palace of the king!" "Here Aida, the beautiful Ethiopian slave passes her radiant youth in the wake of Amneris, daughter of the Pharaoh:" "She loves and is loved by Radames young warrior prince;" "and does not know how to hide her impossible love from the eyes of her mistress:" "Amneris, jealous and wounded by anxiety, lives without peace:" "Yes, it is rumored that the Ethiop dares once again our power in the valley of Nilus, threaten as well as Thebes." "The truth from messengers I soon shall know." "Hast thou consulted the will of Isis?" "She has declared who of Egypt's renowned" "Armies shall be leader." "Oh happy mortal!" "Young in years is he and dauntless." "The dread commandment" "I to the King shall take." "What if 'tis I am chosen?" "Ah my dream be now accomplished!" "Of a glorious army I the chosen leader mine glorious victory by Memphis received in triumph!" "To thee returned, Aida, my brow entwined with laurel" "Tell thee, for thee I battled, for thee" "I conquered!" "Heav'nly Aida, beauty resplendent," "Radiant flower blooming and bright;" "Queenly thou reignest o'er me transcendent," "Bathing my spirit in beauty's light." "Would that thy bright skies once more beholding," "Breathing the soft airs of thy native land;" "Round thy fair brow a diadem folding," "Thine were a throne next the sun to stand." "Heav'nly Aida beauty resplendent," "Radiant flower blooming and bright;" "Queenly thou reignest o'er me transcendent," "Bathing my spirit in beauty's light." "Would that thy bright skies once more beholding," "Breathing the soft airs of thy native land;" "Round thy fair brow a diadem folding," "Thine were a throne next the sun to stand." "a throne next the sun to stand." "a throne next the sun to stand." "In thy visage I trace a joy unwonted!" "What martial ardour is beaming in thy noble glances!" "Ah me, how worthy were of all envy the woman whose dearly wished for presence could have power to kindle in thee such rapture." "A dream of proud ambition in my heart I was nursing." "Isis this day has declared by name warrior chief appointed to lead to battle Egypt's hosts;" "ah, for this honour say what if I were chosen!" "Has not another vision, one more sweet, more enchanting, found favour in your heart?" "Is there in Memphis no attraction more charming?" "Aida!" "He is troubled." "ne'er lover gazed with more raptured eyes!" "Aida!" "Should I discover one who with me now vies" "Come hither thou I dearly prize, slave art thou none, nor menial;" "thee have I made by fondest ties sister, a name more genial." "Weepest thou?" "The secret let me know, wherefore thy tears now flow." "Alas!" "The cry of war I hear, vast host I see assemble, therefor the country's fate I fear, for me, for all I tremble." "And art thou sure no deeper woe now bids thy tears to flow?" "Mighty the cause that summons round the King the faithful sons of Egypt." "From the Ethiops' land a messenger this moment has reached us, news of grave import" "brings he." "Be pleased to hear him!" "The sacred limits of Egyptian soil is by Ethiops invaded, our fertile fields lie all devastated, destroyed our harvest." "Emboldened by so easy a victory the plundering hordes to the capital are marching." "Presumptuous daring!" "They are led by a warrior as fierce as he is dauntless:" " Amonasro." " The King!" "My father!" "All Thebes has risen, and from her hundred portals has poured on the invader a torrent fierce, fraught with relentless carnage." "Yes, death and battle be our rallying cry!" "Battle, battle!" "And carnage, war unrelenting!" "Isis, revered goddess, already has appointed the warrior chief, with power supreme invested." "Radames!" "Ye Gods, I thank you!" "My dearest wish is crowned!" "Now unto the holy temple, warrior brave, there to gird thee to victory, donning sacred armour." "Up, Egyptians brave, guard the shores of Nilus' sacred river, unto death the foe deliver," "Egypt they never shall enslave." "Glory render, glory abiding, to our Gods all mortals guiding;" "peace or war alone deciding, their protection let us crave." "From my hand, thou warrior glorious, take thy standard aye victorious, let it ever lead the way for thy opponent's overthrow." "Battle, battle," "Thy brow may laurels crown!" "Thy brow may laurels crown!" "Aida what madness led you to unite your voice to the calls for victory against your home land, against your father, against your brothers, ready to give their lives for your freedom!" "Poor Aida, your heart is in turmoil, and the incredible words burn your lips like a curse." "Thy brow may laurels crown!" "What!" "Can my lips pronounce language so impious!" "Wish him victor o'er my father!" "o'er him who wages war" "But that I may be restored to my country, To my kingdom, to the high station" "I now perforce dissemble!" "Wish him conqueror O'er my brothers!" "E'en now I see him stained with their blood so cherished, 'mid the clamorous triumph of Egyptian battalions!" "Behind his chariot a king, my father comes, his fettered captive!" "Ye gods watching o'er me, those words deem unspoken!" "A father restore me, his daughter heart-broken;" "Oh, scatter, oh scatter their armies, forever crush our foe!" "What wild words do I utter?" "of my affection" "Have I no recollection?" "That sweet love that consoled me, a captive pining," "Like some bright sunny ray on my sad lot shining!" "Shall I invoke destruction on the man" "For whom with love I languish?" "Ah!" "ne'er yet on this earth lived one" "Whose heart was crushed beneath such anguish!" "The names so holy of father, of lover," "No more dare I utter or e'en recall," "Abashed and trembling, to Heaven would hover" "My prayer for both, for both my tears would fall." "Ah, woe!" "transformed seemed my prayers to blaspheming," "To suffer is a crime, dark sin to weep," "My senses lost, wrapt in deep night are dreaming," "To my grave would in sorrow I might creep!" "Merciful Gods, look from on high!" "Pity these tears hopelessly shed," "Love!" "mystic power, mystic and dread," "Break, break my weak heart, let me now die!" "Merciful Gods, look from on high!" "Merciful Gods, look from on high!" "Merciful Gods," "look from on high!" "Merciful" "Gods, look from" "on high!" "Hail mighty Phthà, that wakest in all things breathing" "Lo!" "we invoke thee!" "Hail mighty Phthà, that makest" "All fruitful things grow rife," "Lo!" "we invoke thee!" "Hail mighty Phthà, that makest" "Lo!" "we invoke thee!" "Hear us, oh guardian deity," "Our sacred land protecting," "Thy mighty hand extending," "Danger, danger, to Egypt ward!" "Victory is to the Egyptians!" "The remains of the decimated Ethiopian army are in chains at the mercy of the victor:" "Amonaso the defeated King was among the common prisoners, but his look of a wounded beast flashes hatred towards the victor, who with his head held high approaches the honour of triumph:" "Amneris meanwhile, lets herself be lulled by the sweet illusion of having to herself the love of Radames:" "An invincible disturbance blurs the joy that should enliven her:" "The mere presence of Aida with her fatal beauty again assails the anguish of doubt and of jealousy:" "But she knows how to feign, and will want to investigate:" "Will want to know..." "Our songs his glory praising Heavenward waft a name" "Whose deeds the sun outblazing" "Eclipse his dazzling flame." "Come bind thy flowing tresses round while loud our songs of praise resound Come, love, with rapture fill me," "To joy my heart restore!" "To joy my heart restore!" "Ah, cease now, 'tis Aida who this way advances," "Child of the conquered, to me her grief is sacred." "Once more to see her my soul again with doubt is tortured" "Thy dread secret at last shall be surrendered!" "'Neath the chances of battle succumb thy people, O hapless Aida;" "the sorrows that afflict thee Be sure I feel as keenly;" "Time will bring comfort" "And heal your present anguish" "Greater than time the healing power of love is." "Nay, tell me, then, what new fledged love assails my gentle Aida?" "Unbosom all thy secret thoughts, come, trust securely in my affection;" "Come, trust securely in my affection;" "Amongst the warriors who fought" "Fatally against thy country" "It may be that one has wakened" " In thee gentle thoughts of love." " What meanest thou?" "The cruel fate of war not all alike embraces," "And then the dauntless warrior Who leads the host may perish!" " What dost thou tell me?" " Yes." " Yes, Radames by thine is slaughtered" " And canst thou mourn him?" "For ever my tears shall flow!" "The Gods have wrought thee vengeance." "Tremble!" "thou art discovered!" "Thou lovest him, ne'er deny it." "Gaze on my visage" "I told thee falsely" "Radames liveth!" "Gods, I thank ye!" "Dost hope still now deceive me?" "Yes, thou lovest him;" "so e'en do I" "Dost hear my words?" "Behold thy rival here" "In a Pharaoh's daughter." "Thou my rival!" "What though it were so?" "I too" "Heed not my words, but spare and pardon!" "Ah!" "on all my anguish sweet pity take," "'Tis true that all else for his love I'd forsake," "While thou art mighty all joy's thy dower," "Naught save my love have I left in life!" "In the pageant now preparing" "Shall a part by thee be taken," "Thou the dust, slave abject, biting," "On the throne while I find room!" "With me inviting, thou ere long shalt learn thy doom." "Hither advance, oh glorious band," "Mingle your joy with ours," "Green bays and fragrant flowers" "Scatter their path along." "Hither advance, oh glorious band, mingle your joy with ours," "Green bays and fragrant flowers" "Scatter their path along." "Mingle your joy with ours," "Green bays and fragrant flowers" "Scatter their path along." "Saviour brave of thy country, Egypt salutes thee!" "Hither now advance, and on thy head" "My daughter will place the crown of triumph." "What thou askest freely I'll grant it;" "naught can be denied thee on such a day:" "I swear it by the crown I am wearing by Heaven above us." "First deign to order that the captives be before you brought." "What see I?" "He here?" "My father?" "And in our power!" " Thou captive made!" " Tell not my rank." "Come forward!" "So then thou art" "Her father!" "I joined the war" "Fought, and was conquered." "Death I vainly sought." "This my habit has told you already." "I my king, I my country defended." "Adverse fortune against us ran steady," "Vainly sought we the fates to defy." "At my feet in the dust lay extended" "Our King, countless wounds had transpierced him;" "If to fight for the country that nursed him" "Make one guilty, we are ready to die." "But, O King, in thy power transcendent," "Spare the lives on thy mercy dependent," "By the fates though to-day overtaken," "Say, who can tomorrow's event descry." "O King, by Heaven above us, and by the crown upon thy brow," "Whate'er I asked thee thou wouldst grant it." "Say on!" "I pray, freedom and life to freely grant unto these Ethiop captives here." "Hear me, O King:" "And thou too," "Dauntless young hero, list to the voice of prudence:" "They are foes to battle hardened," "In them vengeance ne'er will die," "Growing bolder if now pardoned" "They to arms once more will fly." "With Amonasro, their warrior king," "All hopes of revenge have perished." "At least as earnest of safety and of peace" "Keep we back fair Aida's father;" "I yield me to thy counsel," "Of safety now and peace a bond more certain will I give you." "Radames, to thee our debt is unbounded." "Amneris my daughter shall be thy guerdon." "Thou shalt hereafter o'er Egypt with her hold conquering sway." "Now let yon bondmaid" "Rob me of my love, she dares not! The echo of the triumphal celebrations has gone now, into the immensity of the night:" "And the Nile flows silently between boundless, deserted banks:" "But this peace cannot mitigate the anguish of Aida," "Radames belongs to another:" "He has obtained the freedom of the Ethiopian prisoners but not that of Aida, who will always remain in bondage silent, desperate witness to his marriage to Amneris, escorted by her maids in the company of the high priest, Amneris" "close to the fulfilment of her dreams of love, goes to the temple to give thanks to the gods:" "Even Aida will come:" "by another way, with a different heart:" "It will perhaps be the last meeting with the man she loves, at the height of distress, alone with her hopeless love" "She brings to mind thoughts of death!" "He will ere long be here!" "What would he tell me?" "I tremble!" "Ah, if thou comest to bid me, harsh man, farewell for ever," "Then, Nilus, thy dark and rushing stream" "Hides me forever;" "peace shall I find there peace shall I find there and oblivion!" "Thee my native land ne'er more shall I behold!" "ne'er more" "ne'er more shall I behold!" "O skies cerulean, breezes soft blowing," "Where brightly calmness saw life's blithe morn unfold," "Sweet sloping verdure by streams so softly flowing," "Thee my native land ne'er more shall I behold!" "Thee my native land ne'er more shall I behold!" "Thee my native land ne'er more" "shall I behold!" "Heaven!" "my father!" "To thee, Aida, I come for gravest reasons." "Naught escapes my attention;" "For Radames thour't dying of love." "He loves thee, thou awaitest him." "A daughter of the Pharaohs is thy rival" "Race accursed, detested, to us aye fatal!" "And I am in her grasp, I, Amonasro's daughter!" "In her power thou?" "No!" "If thou wishest," "Thy all-powerful rival thou shalt vanquish;" "Thy country, thy sceptre, thy love, all shall be thine." "Once again shalt thou on our balmy forests," "Our verdant valleys, our golden temples gaze!" "Once again shall I on our balmy forests," "Our verdant valleys, our golden temples gaze." "The happy bride of thy heart's dearest treasure," "Delight unbounded there shalt thou enjoy." "Ah, but one day of such enchanting pleasure," "Nay, but an hour of bliss so sweet, then let me die!" "then let me die!" "Our people armed are panting for the signal;" "now to strike the blow." "Success is sure:" "Naught but one thing is wanting" "That we know by what path will march the foe." "Who that path will discover?" " Canst tell?" " Thyself will!" "Myself!" "Radames, whom thou expects," "will tell thee;" "He commands the Egyptians, and loves thee." "Thought hateful!" "What promptst thou me to do?" "No!" "no!" "ask it not!" "Thou'rt not my daughter!" "No!" "of the Pharaohs thou art a bondmaid." "Have mercy, pray!" "Have mercy, pray!" "Father, no, their slave am I no longer." "Ah, with thy curse do not appal me," "Still thine own daughter" "thou mayst call me," "Ne'er shall my country" "Ne'er shall my country her child disdain." "Think that thy race downtrampled by the conqueror," "Through thee alone can their freedom gain." "Through thee alone can their freedom gain." "Oh then, my country than love has proved the stronger." "my country than love has proved the stronger." "Have courage!" "he comes!" "there I'll remain." "I see thee again, my sweet Aida!" "Advance not!" "Hence!" "What hopes are thine?" "Love led me hither in hope to meet thee." "Thou to another thy hand must resign." "The Princess weds thee!" "What say'st thou?" "Thee only, Aida, e'er can I love." "Once more of deadly strife with hope unfading" "The Ethiopians have lighted the brand;" "Already they our borders have invaded." "While Egypt's armies I shall command," "When shouts of triumph greet me victorious," "To our kind monarch my love disclosing," "Thee will I claim, thee my guerdon glorious." "With thee live ever in peace reposing." "Thee will I claim, thee my guerdon glorious." "With thee live ever in peace reposing." "Yet, if thou lovest me, then still offers A means for our safety." " Name it!" " To fly!" "Ah, fly from where these burning skies," "Are all beneath them blighting;" "Towards regions new we'll turn our eyes," "Our faithful love inviting." "There where the virgin forests rise," "There where the virgin forests rise," "'Mid fragrance softly stealing, The world we'll quite forget, 'mid loving bliss." "To distant countries ranging with thee thou bidst me fly," "For other lands exchanging all 'neath my native sky." "The land these arms have guarded, that first fame's crown awarded," "When I first thee regarded" "How can I e'er forget?" "How can I e'er forget?" "But tell me by what path shall we avoid alighting on the soldiers?" "By the path we have chosen to fall on the Ethiops, 'twill be vacant until to-morrow." " Say, which is that?" " The gorges of Napata!" "Of Napata!" "'tis well then." "There will I post my troops." " Who has overheard us?" " I, Aida's father, Ethiopia's King." "Thou!" "Amonasro!" "Thou the King?" "Heaven!" "what say'st thou?" "No!" "it is false!" "No!" "it is false!" "My name forever branded!" "For thee I've played the traitor." "No, guilt can never fall on thee," "Come where beyond the Nile arrayed warriors brave are waiting;" "There love thy fond wish sating" "Thou shalt be happy made." " Come then, come then..." " Traitor!" "Die then!" "Guards!" "quick, follow!" "Holy Priest, to thee I yield." "Radames, for the love of Aida to flee with her and achieve a dream of happiness, has revealed the secret passage way of the Egyptian army:" "But it was all in vain!" "Surprised by Amneris and the high priest, while Aida and her father fled," "Radames voluntarily gives himself up as prisoner:" "Now, the severe judgment of the supreme court awaits him:" "Amneris still madly in love, tries to save him, if only he renounces his love for Aida:" "But Radames belongs to another now!" "He has already chosen!" "Preferring infamy and death:" "Now to the hall the priests proceed" "Where judgment thou art waiting," "Yet is there hope from this foul deed" "Thyself of disculpating." "Once clear to gain thy pardon," "I at the throne's foot kneeling" "For mercy dear appealing," "For mercy dear appealing, life will I bring to thee." "Dishonour awaits me, my death thou fearest?" "Wretched thou mad'st life ever" "From Aida mine to sever;" "Haply thou hast slain her" "Yet offerest life to me?" "I on her life lay guilty hands!" " No!" "Aida lives yet!" " Living!" "When routed, fled the savage bands, to fate war's chances giving," " Perished her father!" " And she then!" "Vanished, nor ought heard we then further." "The gods her path guide then, safe to her home" "Guard her too e'er from learning that for her sake I die." "But if I save thee wilt thou swear" " Her sight e'er to resign?" " I cannot!" "Swear to renounce her for ever, life shall be thine." " I cannot!" " Once more thy answer," " Wilt thou renounce her?" " No!" "Never!" "Life's thread wouldst thou then sever?" "Ready for death am I." "Ah me!" "death's hand approaches!" "who now will save him?" "Behold of death" "The ministers fatal, his merciless judges." "Ah let me not behold those white robed phantoms!" "He is now in their power," "His sentence I have sealed" "His sentence..." "I have sealed" "He is now in their power, his sentence I have sealed" "Radames" "Radames" "Radames" "thou hast betrayed of thy country, the secrets to aid the foeman." "Defend thyself!" "Defend thyself!" "He is silent." "Traitor vile!" "Pity O heaven" "His heart is guiltless Pity, O Heaven" "Radames" "Radames" "Radames" "and thou wast absent from the camp the very day before the combat!" "Defend thyself!" "Defend thyself!" "He is silent." "Traitor vile! Pity, O Heaven" "Radames" "Radames" "Radames" "And thou hast played the part of a traitor to King, and to honour!" "Defend thyself!" "Defend thyself!" "He is silent." "Traitor vile!" "Pity" "Pity, O Heaven" "Radames, we thy fate have decided," "Of all traitors the fate shall be thine" "'Neath the altar whose God thou'st derided" "'Neath the altar whose God thou'st derided" "Thou a sepulcher living shalt find." "Find a sepulcher living!" "hated wretches!" "Ever vengeful, bloodthirsty and blind." "Yet who serve of kind Heaven the shrine." "Traitor vile!" "Traitor vile!" "Priest of Heaven:" "thou death hast inflicted" "On whom well ye know once I treasured;" "May a broken heart's curses unmeasured" "With his blood on thy guilty head fall!" "None can his doom recall!" "Earthly justice and Heaven's you are insulting," "Recall!" "On the guiltless your sentence will fall." "Traitor vile!" "Traitor vile!" "Impious priesthood, curses light on ye all!" "On your heads Heaven's vengeance will fall! The fatal stone upon me now is closing," "Now has the tomb engulfed me." "I never more the light shall behold." "Ne'er more see gentle Aida." "Dear Aida, where now art thou?" "Whate'er befalls me may'st thou be happy." "Ne'er may my frightful doom" "Reach thy gentle ear." "What groan was that?" "Tis a phantom!" "Some vision dread." "No!" "sure that form is human!" "Heaven!" "'tis Aida." "Yes!" "Aida!" "Thou, with me here buried!" "My heart forboded this thy dreadful sentence," "And to this tomb that shuts on thee its portal" "I crept unseen by mortal." "Here from all where none can behold us," "Clasped in thy arms" "I resolved to perish." "To perish!" "so pure and lovely!" "To die, thine own self dooming," "In all thy beauty blooming," "In all thy beauty blooming," "Fade thus forever!" "Thou whom the heav'n only for love created" "But to destroy thee was my love then fated!" "Ah no!" "those eyes so dear I prize" "For death are too lovely!" "That sad chanting!" "It is our death chant resounding!" "Cannot my lusty sinews move from its place" " this fatal stone?" " 'Tis vain!" "all is over" "Hope on earth have we none!" "I fear it!" "I fear it!" "Farewell, O earth!" "farewell thou vale of sorrow!" "Brief dream of joy condemned to end in woe!" "See, brightly opens the sky, opens the sky, an endless morrow" "There all unshadowed eternal shall glow!" "Farewell, O earth!" "farewell thou vale of sorrow! Brief dream of joy condemned to end in woe! See, brightly opens the sky," "opens the sky, an endless morrow opens the sky" "There all unshadowed eternal shall glow! Peace everlasting, lov'd one, mayst thou know Isis, relenting, greet thee on high! Peace everlasting," "Peace everlasting," "Peace" "Subtitles:" "Corvusalbus"