Verdi entertaining

Giuseppe Verdi wrote the opera “Aida” as a commission from the then ruler of Egypt to celebrate the opening of the Khedivial Opera House. But thanks to the Siege of Paris in 1870, the opera missed opening night because the scenery and costumes were stuck in the French capital.

Thanks to streaming media, you won’t have to miss The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of this classic, presented Live in HD at the Newport Performing Arts Center this Saturday, Feb. 1. 

One of the most performed operas in history, noted for its soaring arias, rousing choruses and displays of grand pageantry, “Aida” represents the epitome of grand opera.

The story begins with a group of archaeologists unearthing an Egyptian tomb unseen for millennia. One finds an ancient dagger with a royal insignia. As they take in the architecture and hieroglyphs, they visualize the reign of the pharaohs. Ancient Egypt provides an epic backdrop for what is, essentially, an intimate love story.

Angel Blue makes her Met role debut as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country, one of opera’s defining roles. Hailed as a “sumptuously voiced soprano” by The New York Times, Blue returns to the Live in HD series following celebrated cinema turns in the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess,” Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” and Puccini’s “La Rondine.” Star tenor Piotr Beczała is the soldier Radamès, and mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi takes on the role of Aida’s Egyptian rival, Amneris — completing opera’s greatest love triangle. The all-star cast also features baritone Quinn Kelsey as Amonasro and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy as Ramfis.

Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer’s brilliant new staging, which brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations.

The production, sung in Italian with English subtitles, begins at 9:30 am and runs for roughly three hours and 25 minutes, with one intermission that will include exclusive behind-the-scenes content and cast interviews led by host Rhiannon Giddens. Tickets range from $12 to $28. The Newport Performing Arts Center is located at 777 W Olive Street. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.