In the Jubilee 165^th season, the State Georgian Opera exclusively presents a special version of Aida, which was premiered on the 100^th  anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's death at Verdi Festival, at Teatro Verdi in Busseto, Verdi's hometown staged by legendary Franco Zeffirelli.

Synopsis

ACT 1

Scene 1. A hall in the King's palace at Memphis
Radames, the captain of the Egyptian guard learns from the high priest Ramfis that rebelled Ethiopia is preparing an attack against Egypt. He has consulted the Goddess Isis, who has named the future Egyptian commander and he is now on his way to inform the king. Radames cherishes the secret hope of being appointed the commander and believes that victory in the war would enable him to free and marry his beloved Aida, the Ethiopian slave of the Princess Amneris. The King’s daughter secretly loves Radames, but she senses, that she has a rival and guesses, that it’s Aida.
 
The king informs everyone, that Isis’ chosen commander is Radames and all join in a patriotic anthem, wishing him victory. Overjoyed Radames makes his way to the temple to complete his coronation ritual.

Left alone, Aida prays to the gods for mercy. Nobody knows that she is the daughter of Ethiopia's king, Amonasro. She’s unable to choose between her love to Radames and her father and homeland.


Scene 2. In temple of Vulcan 
The priestesses invoke the god Fthà. While they dance, the priests consecrate Radames. Ramfis orders him to protect Egypt.
 

ACT 2

Scene 1. Amneris’ chambers
Ethiopia has been defeated by the Egyptian armies and Amneris is waiting for the triumphant return of Radames. In the meantime, inside her chambers, she has her slaves to entertain the princess. Aida enters and Amneris decides to test her, saying that Radames has died in battle, afterwards saying he is still alive. Observing her reactions the Princess assures, that her own slave is her secret rival.  In a fury Amneris vows revenge and forces Aida to attend the approaching triumph with her.

Scene 2. The grand gate of the city of Thebes
The King enters with his retinue, Amneris and her slaves, including Aida, to observe Radames and his troops’ triumphal return to Memphis and their march through the city; the captured Ethiopians follow the army; Amonasro, Aida’s father, who signals his daughter not to reveal his identity of the king, is among them. Amneris places a laurel crown on the victorious commander’s head and the King promises to fulfill whatever he wishes. Amonasro presents himself to the King as an ordinary officer and appeals for clemency to his conquered people. Ramfis and the priests advise the King to show no mercy. Radamès also asks to overrule the death sentence of the prisoners to free them. The King fulfills his request, on the premise that Aida and her father alone shall be held, in token of peace. Then he declares Radames his successor and future husband of Princess Amneris.


ACT 3

The banks of the Nile
It is a beautiful moonlight night on the banks of the Nile. The priestess’ soft chanting is heard from the temple of Isis, where Ramfis and Amneris have entered to pray. Here Radames had bid Aida to meet him and she has come. She grieves on her frustrated dream of love and the beauties of her homeland never to be seen again. Suddenly Amonasro appears. He has fathomed Aida’s secret and divined that she is here to meet Radames. Invoking Aida’s sense of duty, he makes her agree to find out from Radames which route the Egyptian army will take to invade Ethiopia, and then hides.
 
Radames enters and talks to Aida about their future lives together, but she is well aware of Amneris’s power and that her vengeance would swiftly fall upon them both; so, he asks Radames to escape with her. After the little hesitation he accepts and tells her where the army is located. Amonasro reveals himself and his identity. Radames is horrified by what he has done. Amneris and the high priest, who have overheard all, come out of the temple. Aida begs Radames to follow them, but in vain.  Father and daughter disappear in darkness. Radames submits himself to Amneris and the priest as a traitor.


ACT 4

Scene 1. A hall in the King’s palace
Desperate Amneris tries to save Radames, but he accepts his punishment, being happy to know that Aida and her father have escaped. Accused of treason, desertion and abuse of the King’s trust, Radames refuses to defend himself and high priest and his court condemn him to death by being buried alive. In vain Amneris begs the priests to show him mercy; she curses the priests while Radames is taken away.

Scene 2. The lower part of the stage: the vault in the Temple of Vulcan; the upper part: interior of the temple itself.
The priests seal the vault in which Radames is entombed. He hopes that Aida is in a safer place and suddenly observes a moving object in the darkness, uttering his name with a familiar voice. It is Aida. She has hidden earlier in the vault to share Radames’ fate. They bid farewell to Earth - valley of sorrows and blissfully await the end. Amneris is mourning in the temple above them, praying to Isis for Radames’ soul.