Verdi’s Aida Is May 13, 2023, Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast

Summary: Verdi's Aida is the May 13, 2023, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing as 20th of the 2022-2023 season's 24 Saturday radio broadcasts.

Angela Gheorghiu sings Tosca in 2022-2023 season's Saturday matinee radio broadcast, April 8 (fourth spring performance; 13th of season's 15 performances), and Wednesday, April 12 (fifth spring performance; 14th of season's 15 performances): Angela Gheorghiu @angelagheorghiu, via Twitter March 20, 2023

Verdi's Aida is the May 13, 2023, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, as the 20th of the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Nineteenth-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901) set his musical score for Aida to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni (Nov. 25, 1824-July 16, 1893). The Italian librettist, poet and writer usually is considered to have sourced his libretto from a scenario by French Egyptologist François Auguste Ferdinand Mariette (Feb. 11, 1821-Jan. 19, 1881).

Verdi's Aida received a world premiere, held Sunday, Dec. 24, 1871, at Khedivial Opera House, also known as Royal Opera House, in Cairo, northeastern Egypt. Verdi's Rigoletto, which had premiered Tuesday, March 11, 1851, northeastern Italy's Teatro La Fenice in Venice, was performed Monday, Nov. 1, 1869, at Khedivial Opera House as its inaugural opera.

Aida’s Metropolitan Opera premiere took place Friday, Nov. 12, 1886, at the opera company's first opera house, located at 1411 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan's Garment District. Verdi's ancient Egypt-themed opera received four performances, sung in German, in the 1886-1887 season.

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season stages Verdi's Aida as the 19th revival of the new production that debuted Thursday, Dec. 8, 1988, in the opera's 924th Met Opera performance, by Sonja Frisell (Sonja Bettie Frisell-Schröder) in the 1988-1989 season. The British stage director had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Feb. 2, 1981, in the opera company's 32nd performance of L'Italiana in Algeri by 19th-century Italian composer Gioachino Antonio Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868).

In the 2022-2023 season, the 19th revival of Frisell's Aida production receives 15 performances, distributed over winter and spring and comprising two to three casts. The 19th revival opened Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, as the first of nine winter performances. The second through ninth performances took place Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Jan. 27, at 1:00 p.m.

The 19th revival's last six performances are scheduled as spring dates. The 10th through 12th performances were offered Thursday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinee, April 30, at 3:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 6, at 8:00 p.m. The 19th revival's last three performances, numbers 13th through 15th, closing, in the 2022-2023 season, are scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13 at 1:00 p.m.; and Thursday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Paolo Carignani conducts all 15 performances. His conductorship of the 19th revival marks his first reprisal of the opera that he had added to his Met Opera portfolio in the 2009-2010 season, during the production's 13th revival. The Italian conductor had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, in the opera company's 944th performance of Verdi's La Traviata.

Michelle Bradley sings the title role of captive Ethiopian Princess Aida in the second through 15th, closing performances, including the Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, March 6, 2017, as a Woman of Crete in the opera company's 68th performance of Idomeneo by 18th century Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Michelle Bradley shares the title role with Latonia Moore, who sang the title role in the 19th revival's first performance, Friday, Dec. 2. Her appearance marked her second reprisal of the role in which she had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, March 3, 2012, in the opera company's 1,122nd Aida performance, during the Frisell production's 14th revival. The American soprano's first Aida reprisal took place during the 2016-2017 season's 17th revival.

Olesya Petrova appears as Egyptian Princess Amneris, unrequitedly in love with Radamès, captain of the King of Egypt’s Guard. She sings Amneris in the first through third and fifth through 15th, closing performances, including the Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13. Her appearances in the 19th revival mark her first reprisal of the role that she had added to her Met Opera portfolio in the 2018-2019 season's 18th revival of Frisell's Aida production. The Russian mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, March 24, 2014, as Madelon in the opera company’s 180th performance of Andrea Chénier by Italian verismo (“realism”) composer Umberto Giordano (Aug. 28, 1867-Nov. 12, 1948).

Olesya Petrova shares the role with Anita Rachvelishvili, who sang Amneris in the 19th revival's fourth performance, Tuesday, Dec. 13. Her appearances in the 19th revival mark her first reprisal of the role that she had added to her Met Opera portfolio in the 2018-2019 season's 18th revival of Frisell's Aida production. The Georgian operatic mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, as the title role in the opera company’s 970th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Jorge de León sings Radamès, who reciprocally loves Aida, in the last four performances, including the Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13. His appearances in the 19th revival mark his first reprisal of the role in which he had made his Met Opera debut. The chicharrero (demonym: Santa Cruz de Tenerife) Spanish tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, March 23, 2017, during the production's 17th revival, in the opera company's 1,156th performance of Aida.

Jorge de León shares the spring role with Marcelo Álvarez and Rafael Davila. Marcelo Álvarez sings Radamès in the 19th revival's first spring performance, Thursday, April 27. The Argentine lyric tenor’s Met Opera debut took place Monday, Nov. 23, 1998, as Alfredo in the opera company’s 819th performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

Rafael Davila appears as Radamès in the second spring performance, Sunday, April 30. The Puerto Rican tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, as Don José in the opera company's 1,002nd performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Brian Jagde shared Radamès with Limmie Pulliam in the 19th revival's winter performances. Brian Jagde sang Radamès in the first four and sixth through ninth performances. The American operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, April 3, 2014, as Count Elemer in the opera company’s 53rd performance of Arabella by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sep. 8, 1949).

Limmie Pulliam sang Radamès in the 19th revival's fifth performance, Saturday, Dec. 17. The American tenor's appearance Saturday, Dec. 17, as Radamès in the opera company's 1,181st Aida performance, marked his Met Opera debut.

George Gagnidze sings Aida’s father, Ethiopian King Amonasro, in the first three winter and six spring performances, including the Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13. His appearances in the 19th revival mark his third reprisal of the role that he had added to his Met Opera portfolio during the 2012-2013 season's 15th revival of Frisell's Aida production. His first two reprisals had occurred in the 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 seasons, respectively. The Georgian operatic baritone had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, in the title role in the opera company’s 817th performance of Verdi's Rigoletto.

George Gagnidze shares the role with Quinn Kelsey and Luca Salsi. Quinn Kelsey sang winter's Amonasro in the fourth through seventh performances (Tuesday, Dec. 13; Saturday, Dec. 17; Wednesday, Dec. 21; Tuesday, Dec. 27). His appearances in the 19th revival mark his first reprisal of the role that he had added to his Met Opera portfolio during the 2018-2019 season's 18th revival of Frisell's Aida production. The Hawaiian baritone had made his Metropolitan Opera debut Saturday, March 29, 2008, as Schaunard the musician in the opera company's 1,194th performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Luca Salsi sang winter's King Amonastro in the 19th revival's eighth (Tuesday, Jan. 3) and ninth (Saturday, Jan. 7) performances. The Italian baritone made his Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, as Sharpless in the opera company’s 812th performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly.

Christian Van Horn sings Egyptian High Priest Ramfis in the first through fifth and seventh through 15th, closing performances, including the Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, as Pistola in the opera company’s 176th performance of Verdi's Falstaff.

Christian Van Horn shares the role with Harold Wilson, who sang winter's Ramfis in the 19th revival's sixth performance, Wednesday, Dec. 21. The American bass had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, as the Jailer in the opera company's 908th performance of Puccini's Tosca.

Krzysztof Bączyk sings spring's King of Egypt in all six spring performances, including the Saturday matinee radio broadcast May 13. The Polish bass's appearance Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the opera company's 1,186th Aida performance, marked his Met Opera debut.

Krzysztof Bączyk shares the role with Alexandros Stavrakakis, who sang the King of Egypt in all nine winter performances. The Greek bass had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, as the Monk in the opera company's 226th performance of Verdi's Don Carlo.

Sonja Frisell's Aida production team comprises Gianni Quaranta, set designer; Dada Saligeri, costume designer; Gil Wechsler, lighting designer; and Alexei Ratmansky, choreographer. Italian production designer and art director Gianni Quaranta and Italian costume designer Dada Saligeri had made their Met Opera debuts Thursday, Dec. 8, 1988, in Sonja Frisell's new Aida production, during the opera company's 924th performance of Aida. Russian-American choreographer Alexei Ratmansky had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, in the opera company's 1,104th Aida performance, during the 2009-2010 season's 13th revival of Frisell's Aida production. American lighting designer Gil Wechsler (Feb. 5, 1942-July 9, 2021) had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1977, in the opera company's 74th performance of Le Prophète by German Jewish opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (Sep. 5, 1791-May 2, 1864).

Stephen Pickover is the production’s revival stage director. The American stage director had made his Met Opera debut Sunday, May 30, 1993, in the opera company's 481st performance of Die Walküre by 19th-century German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of Saturday matinee broadcasts continues with the May 20, 2023, airing of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at 1:00 p.m. The matinee performance numbers as the 21st of the season's 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Milanese conductor Paolo Carignani conducts all 15 performances of Verdi's Aida and the sixth, eighth and ninth performances of Puccini's La Bohème in Met Opera's 2022-2023 season; undated photo of Paolo Carignani, whose interests include conducting operas and climbing mountains: Paolo Carignani, via Facebook Dec. 29, 2022

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's revival of British stage director Sonja Frisell's 1988-1989 production of Verdi's Aida offers nine winter and six summer performances; sets by Gianni Quaranta, costumes by Dada Saligeri, lighting by Gil Wechsler, choreography by Alexei Ratmansky: The Wall Street Journal @WSJ, via Twitter Dec. 5, 2022, @ https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1599939228992954370

Milanese conductor Paolo Carignani conducts all 15 performances of Verdi's Aida and the sixth, eighth and ninth performances of Puccini's La Bohème in Met Opera's 2022-2023 season; undated photo of Paolo Carignani, whose interests include conducting operas and climbing mountains: Paolo Carignani, via Facebook Dec. 29, 2022, @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10224249456598140&set=ecnf.1054631187

For further information:

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Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "For tomorrow’s performance of Verdi’s Aida, the role of Radamès will be sung by Rafael Davila. For the remaining performances on May 6, 10, 13, and 18, the role of Radamès will be sung by Jorge de León. #castchange." Twitter. April 29, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1652370061061963777

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Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10224249456598140&set=ecnf.1054631187

The Wall Street Journal @WSJ. "Live horses have been part of the cast in The Met’s production of 'Aida' for over three decades. On May 18, the hoofed performers will take the stage in Giuseppe Verdi’s famous opera for the last time." Twitter. Dec. 5, 2022.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1599939228992954370