The Met: Live in HD opera ‘Aida’ will be shown in Whitefish

 A timeless story of love and betrayal against the backdrop of war, a livestream of the opera, “Aida,” performed by the Metropolitan Opera will be shown Jan. 25 at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish as part The Met: Live in HD program. 

Sung in Italian with subtitles, “Aida” is a roller coaster of emotions told through Giuseppe Verdi‘s powerful music. In Act I, high priest Ramfis tells the Egyptian warrior Radamès that Ethiopia is preparing to attack Egypt. He dreams of leading the army into battle and returning victorious to Aida, an Ethiopian slave of Egyptian Princess Amneris, with whom he is secretly in love. Unbeknownst to her captors, Aida is the daughter of the Ethiopian King Amonasro. In addition, Amneris also loves Radamès and is jealous of Aida, whom she suspects of being her rival for Radamès’s affection. When war is declared and Radamès is chosen to lead the army into battle, Aida is torn between her love for him and her love for her country.   

In Act II, Ethiopia has been defeated, and Amneris waits for the return of Radamès. Alone with Aida, she pretends that Radamès has fallen in battle, then says that he is still alive. Aida’s reactions leave no doubt that she loves Radamès, prompting Amneris to scheme to defeat her. Radamès returns from battle triumphant, but Aida is devastated. Her own father, Ethiopian King Amonasro, has been taken captive. The King of Egypt offers Radamès any reward he desires, but impressed with Amonasro’s eloquent plea for mercy, Radamès asks for all prisoners to be released. The King agrees and releases all but Aida and Amonasro. He then announces that Radamès will be his successor and offers the hand of Amneris in marriage.    

In Act III, as Aida waits to meet with Radamès on the eve of his wedding to Amneris, Amonasro appears and demands that she trick her lover into revealing the Egyptian army’s whereabouts. When Radamès appears, he and Aida dream about their future life together, but she still reluctantly asks him about his army’s route. As he reveals the secret, Radamès is horrified as Amonasro emerges from his hiding place and Ramfis and Amneris emerge from a nearby temple. Father and daughter are able to escape, but Radamès surrenders himself to the high priest’s guards.    

Finally in Act IV, Radamès awaits trial as a traitor, believing Aida to be dead. Amneris summons him, but after he learns that Aida has survived, he rejects Amneris’s offer to save him if he gives up his lover. The high priest sentences him to be entombed alive. Distraught, Amneris pleads for mercy, but to no avail. As Radamès is buried alive in a dark vault, he is shocked to discover Aida, who has hidden herself in the vault to die with him. They declare their love for each other one last time.   

Soprano Angel Blue makes her long-awaited Met role debut as Aida, one of opera’s defining roles. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for Michael Mayer’s spectacular new staging, complete with intricate projections and dazzling animations. Mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi is Aida’s Egyptian rival Amneris, while leading tenor Piotr Beczała is the soldier Radamès. The all-star cast also features baritone Quinn Kelsey as Amonasro and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy as Ramfis. The Live in HD experience offers exclusive behind-the-scenes content and cast interviews.   

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and the livestream begins at 11 a.m. Approximate run time is 3 hours and 10 minutes, including one 30-minute intermission. Food and beverage will be available for purchase during the performance. 

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, paid by cash or check only, and will only be sold at the door.   

The screening is presented by the Whitefish Theatre Company in collaboration with the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. 

For more information visit www.whitefishtheatreco.org, the www.metopera.org or call 862-5371.