Act I begins in the Pharaoh’s grand palace in Memphis, Egypt.
The high priest, Ramfis, explains to a young warrior, Radames that the Ethiopians are planning to war with Egypt very soon. Radames, eager to defend his country, has hopes that he will be selected as the Captain of the Egyptian Army. However, his aspirations are not just on the battlefield; Radames also hopes to free Aida, the Ethiopian king’s daughter who is a slave in the Pharaoh’s palace. Aida’s royal identity is unknown to the Egyptians as is the fact that the Ethiopian King is invading Egypt for his daughter’s return.
Radames is in love with the Aida, and hopes that his efforts on the battlefield will win her heart. However, Aida believes that Radames affections are for her mistress, Amneris, the Egyptian King’s daughter. Amneris herself is infatuated with Radames but is fuelled with jealousy when she realises his feelings for Aida.
As news reaches the palace of the Ethiopian’s approach towards Thebes, the Egyptian king appoints Radames as Captain. As Radames and the palace celebrate his promotion and prepare for the war with Ethiopia, Aida is torn between her love for Radames, her father, and her home land. As Aida prays, Ramfis and the priestesses perform sacrificial rituals to ensure victory over Ethiopia.
Act II
In her chamber, Amneris is preparing for the return of the Army and Radames after they have emerged victorious over Ethiopia. Amneris decides to test Aida’s feelings for Radames by telling her that he has died before revealing the truth. Upon seeing Aida’s reactions, Amneris realises that Aida is in love with Radames and she becomes consumed with a jealous rage.
At the celebrations, Radames is welcomed back by Amneris and the King and is rewarded with whatever he wishes. The captured Ethiopians are brought out in front of the Egyptian king; Aida sees her father Amonasro – the Ethiopian king – pretending to be a slave so that he is not killed. Though Amonasro and Aida are delighted to see each other, they cannot be reunited for fears that they both may be killed. Amonasro tells the Egyptians that the Ethiopian king has been killed during the battle and – along with the other captives – begs the king to show mercy. Their pleas go unheard as they are sentenced to death by the Ramfis and Amneris. Radames, however, requests for their release in an effort to save Aida from death. The Egyptian king complies out of gratitude for Radames efforts in the war, but keeps Amonasro as a captive. Radames is offered the kingdom and Amneris’ hand in marriage as the celebrations continue.
Act III
On the eve of Amneris and Radames’ wedding, Ramfis escorts Amneris to the temple of Iris for a pre-wedding ritual. Meanwhile, Aida waits on the banks of the Nile to meet Radames. Before he arrives, Amonasro appears and forces Aida to extract information from Radames about the location of the Egyptian army. Amonasro hides when Radames arrives. As Radames insists that he will marry Aida instead and talks about their future together, he reveals the army’s secrets, much to Amonasro’s delight. As Amonasro confronts Radames, Ramfis and Amneris emerge from the temple, horrified to hear what Radames has done. Amonasro tries to kill Amneris but is stopped by Radames. As Aida and Amonasro make their escape, Radames is left to surrender to the priests as a traitor.
Act IV
Radames awaits his trial and Amneris is adamant to try and save him. She offers to save him if he will pledge he love to her but he refuses, even though he knows that the punishment for betraying Egypt is death. Amneris is devastated when Radames expresses his desire for Aida’s safety and hope that she has been reunited with her native country. As Radames is led off-stage for his trial, Amneris succumbs to her grief as she hears Radames’ judgement: being buried alive.
Radames is led underground to the lower temple and sealed in a tomb. He expresses his hopes for Aida’s safety and reiterates his love for her. Aida appears in the tomb, revealing that she hid there so that the two of them could finally be together. As they prepare to die, above them the priests chant sacred rites while Amneris prays to the Gods to care for Radames’ soul. |
