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Caracalla 2019: Aida

About the Event

Experience opera like never before in this astonishing performance of masterworks by Verdi at Rome's remarkable Baths of Caracalla.

The Nubian Princess Aida was taken hostage to Egypt. The Egyptian commander Radames is in love with Aida and has to decide between his love for Aida and his loyalty to the Pharaoh.
Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king, also cast an eye on Radames and makes Aida confess her secret love with a trick. After Radames was victorious in battle and brings Aida's father to Egypt as a prisoner, he is torn between duty and love. He decides on his love for Aida and plans to escape with her — but the jealous Amneris disturbs the plan and the lovers meet a tragic end.

Verdi's masterpiece Aida was premiered in 1871 in Cairo and is one of the composer's most successful operas. The monumental work, with its larger‐than‐life history and inimitable musical moments, has inspired the greatest singers, conductors and directors in the past centuries and has created performances that have burned themselves into cultural memory forever.

Practical Information

The Baths of Caracalla are ancient baths in Rome and among the largest thermal baths in the Eternal City.
The construction of the Caracalla baths probably started in 206 under Septimius Severus and was completed in 216 under Emperor Caracalla. Further extensions, such as arcades and decorations, were carried out under the emperors Elagabal and Severus Alexander, so that the complex was not really completed until 235 AD. Together with the Diocletian Baths it belonged to the public and free bathing palaces.
In 537 the Ostrogoths destroyed the water pipe during the siege of Rome, which stopped the bathing activities. Nevertheless, they were regarded as the best preserved thermal baths until the Renaissance.
In 1824 systematic excavations began under Count Girolamo Egidio di Velo, who found the mosaic with the athletes. Nowadays the Rome Opera hosts open‐air opera performances here.

Cast / Production

Conductor Jordi Bernàcer

Director, set, costume and lighting designer Denis Krief

Chorus Master Roberto Gabbiani



The King Gabriele Sagona

Amneris Judit Kutasi / Silvia Beltrami

Aida Vittoria Yeo / Serena Farnocchia

Radamès Alfred Kim / Diego Cavazzin

Amonasro Marco Caria

Ramfis Adrian Sâmpetrean / Alessio Cacciamani

Customer Reviews

4.0 of 5

  • Jonathan B, United Kingdom

    Aug 2019

    Chorus didn’t look engaged but they sang well.

  • David M, España

    Jul 2019

    Inmejorable, grandiosa y en un lugar privilegiado

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