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Scan 47
Cyclopedia of music and musicians, 1888
17 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1AÏDA
3several motets by him, in his Musica divina; and the library of the King of Portugal contains several of his motets for three and four voices.—Allgem. d. Biogr., i. 165; Ambros, Gesch., iii. 560; Fétis; Grove; Schilling.
5AÏDA, Italian opera seria in four acts and seven tableaux, text by Antonio Ghizlanzoni, music by Giuseppe Verdi; first represented in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 24, 1871. It was written upon commission of the Khedive Ismaïl Pasha, given in August, 1870, for the inauguration of the new opera-house in Cairo. The subject is said to have been suggested by the Khedive himself. The libretto was prepared in prose by M. Vassali, conservator of the Boulak Museum, then rendered into French verse by Camille du Locle, and lastly translated into Italian verse by Ghizlanzoni. The scenery and costumes were designed by Mariette Bey, the distinguished Egyptologist. Original cast:
7Aïda (S.)………………..Signora Pozzoni.
8Amneris (M.-S.)…………Signora Grossi.
9Radames (T.)……………..Signor Mongini.
10Amonasro (Bar.)………….Signor Costa.
11Ramphis (B.)……………..Signor Medini.
12King (B.)……………………Steller.
14Aïda, daughter of Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, has been made a prisoner in a war between her father and the King of Egypt, and has become the slave of Amneris, daughter of the latter. Amneris is in love with Radames, an Egyptian captain, who secretly loves and is loved by Aïda. When the High Priest, Ramphis, announces the approach of the Ethiopians against Thebes, Radames, who is ignorant of the relationship between Amonasro and Aïda, is chosen by Pharaoh to lead the Egyptian hosts. During Radames's absence Amneris discovers Aïda's secret and conceives for her a violent hatred. Radames returns victorious, with Amonasro his prisoner, and is awarded a triumph and the hand of Amneris. Acting under the instructions of Amonasro, who has formed a plan to recover his liberty and his kingdom through the aid of Radames and to marry his daughter to him, Aïda persuades her lover to betray to her the secrets of the military operations preparing against Ethiopia and to fly with her; but their plans are overheard by Amneris and Ramphis, and Radames is denounced as a traitor. Condemned to be buried alive beneath the Temple of Phtah, Radames is offered a pardon if he will marry Amneris, but he refuses, and descends into the vaults, where Aïda awaits him. The tomb is walled up and sealed by the priests, and the lovers are united in death, while Amneris, abandoning herself to grief, prays beside their sepulchre. The first representation of Aïda in Europe was at La Scala, Milan, Feb. 8, 1872, with Signore Teresina Stolz and Waldmann, and Signori Fancelli, Pandolfini, and Maini in the cast. The opera was given in Naples in March, and in Parma in April, 1872; in New York, 1873; in Paris, at the Italiens, April 22, 1876, and at the Opéra, March 22, 1880; and in London, June 22, 1876. A
16Clara Louise Kellogg, as Aïda.
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