Opera - Aida

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901)

Aida

141:46

Opera in four acts

Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, after a scenario by Auguste Mariette

English version by Edmund Tacey

Prelude

4:04

Act I

Scene 1

'Yes, Ethiopia once again has dared'

1:43

Ramfis, Radames

'I pray that I be chosen'

1:04

'Goddess Aida, fair as a vision'

3:34

Radames

'Have you just heard a joyous tale'

2:37

Amneris, Radames

'Aida!'

1:32

Radames, Amneris

'Alas, I hear the cries of war'

1:59

Aida, Amneris, Radames

'Grave is the cause'

3:10

The Pharaoh, Messenger, Aida, Radames, Amneris

'Now go forward noble army'

3:06

The Pharaoh, Ramfis, Chorus, Aida, Radames, Amneris, Messenger

'As victor then return!'

3:15

'The sacred names of a father and lover'

0:49

'Hear me, ye gods, pity my cry!'

2:43

Aida

Scene 2

'Almighty, almighty Phtha'

3:10

High Priestess, Ramfis, Priests, Priestesses

Sacred Dance of the Priestesses

2:00

'The gods have shown you favour'

1:18

Ramfis, Priests

'Great Godhead we petition thee'

4:03

Ramfis, Radames, Priests, Priestesses

Act II

Scene 1

'We hear the hymns and cheering'

2:54

Slave-girls, Amneris

Dance of the Young Moorish Slaves

2:17

'No more now!'

0:48

Amneris

'Now the battle is over your people suffer'

5:38

'Tremble! I know your secret . . .'

1:35

Amneris, Aida

'But, look with pity on my distress . . .'

1:58

Aida, Amneris

'Now go forward noble army'

1:24

Chorus, Amneris, Aida

'Hear me, ye gods, pity my cry!'

1:23

Aida

Scene 2

'Glory to Isis, goddess fair'

3:26

Populace, Priests

Trumpet Fanfare

1:45

Ballabile

1:55

'Glorious warrior Radames'

2:10

Populace, Priests

'Valiant pride of your country'

2:19

The Pharaoh, Radames

'Worship and glory to all the gods on high'

0:58

Ramfis, Priests, Aida, Amneris, Amonasro, Pharaoh

'As you see, I am wearing the colours of my King'

4:52

Amonasro, Aida, Slave-girls, Prisoners, Ramfis, Priests, Amneris, Populace, Radames

'O King, by holy Isis'

2:39

Radames, Pharaoh, Amneris, Priests, Populace, Ramfis

'Glory to Isis, goddess fair'

3:05

Pharaoh, Populace, Slave-girls, Prisoners, Ramfis, Priests, Aida, Radames, Amneris, Amonasro

Act III

'Thou art to great Osiris'

2:01

Chorus, High Priestess

'Come to the shrine of Isis'

2:00

Ramfis, Amneris, Chorus

'Soon Radames will come!'

2:31

'Oh, skies of blue'

4:00

Aida

'I come, full of concerm'

1:09

'Once again you will see our lofty forests'

3:42

Amonasro, Aida

'No more my daughter'

0:34

Amonasro, Aida

'Father . . . the Egyptians . . . have not . . . enslaved me . . .'

2:28

Aida, Amonasro

'At last I see you, my sweet Aida . . .'

1:22

'Your people rise again, arming for battle . . .'

1:42

Radames, Aida

'We'd leave this white oppressive heat'

3:49

Aida, Radames

'Ah no! We'll leave here!'

2:37

Radames, Aida, Amonasro

'You! Amonasro! You! The King?'

1:30

Radames, Aida, Amonasro

'We're betrayed!'

1:00

Amneris, Aida, Amonasro, Radames, Ramfis

Act IV

Scene 1

'My hated rival has escaped me'

3:01

Amneris

'Soon all the priests will gather here'

2:18

Amneris, Radames

'Ah! You must live'

2:49

'Who will save you, wretched madman'

1:46

Amneris, Radames

'Alas! I feel I'm, dying . . .'

2:13

Amneris, Ramfis, Priests

'Spirit of Isis'

1:53

Ramfis, Priests, Amneris

'Radames! Radames! Radames!'

4:15

Ramfis, Priests, Amneris

'Priests of Isis, the man you condemn'

2:33

Amneris, Ramfis, Priests

Scene 2

'The fatal cover's now in place'

2:26

Radames, Aida

'My heart foretold this horrifying sentence'

3:01

Aida, Radames

'Almighty Phtha'

5:12

Priestesses, Priests, Aida, Radames, Chorus, Amneris

Peter Rose bass - The Pharaoh

Rosalind Plowright mezzo-soprano - Amneris

Jane Eaglen soprano - Aida

Gregory Yurisich baritone - Amonasro

Dennis O'Neill tenor - Radames

Alastair Miles bass - Ramfis

Susan Gritton soprano - The High Priestess

Alfred Boe tenor - A Messenger

David Parry

23rd April - 2nd March 2001