Stefan Egerstrom (King of Egypt), Brian Major (Amonasro) and Morris Robinson (Ramfis)
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Boston Lyric Opera’s one-performance-only of Giuseppe Verdi’s triumphal masterpiece Aida preceded the return of its annual fundraiser that supports access through community initiatives. Following the 3pm staged concert performance of Aida, the stunning Opera Gala 2024, which will be raising funds in support of BLO’s free youth and community programs, was held at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza Hotel.
BLO Music Director David Angus leads the BLO Orchestra
Cast members and BLO Chorus (with members of Back Bay Chorale)
Starring Michelle Johnson (Cavalleria Rusticana) in the title role and international star Morris Robinson, BLO Music Director David Angus takes the helm of this production that, along with Johnson as Aida and Robinson as Ramfis, includes Diego Torre as Radamès, Alice Chung as Amneris, and Brian Major as Amonasro. The Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus perform Verdi’s thrilling score and join with Boston’s choral community, including the Back Bay Chorale, for the Act II Grand Finale and Triumphal March.
Morris Robinson as Ramfis
Michelle Johnson as Aida and Alice Chung as Amneris
As a high school graduate, Morris Robinson memorably shunned music scholarships to pursue football and a career in the data storage business. In 1999, at 30, Robinson enrolled at Boston University to study voice and that fall auditioned for a chorus role at BLO. He impressed the team and was given a featured role in Aida. Twenty-five years later, to the day, Robinson returns to sing at BLO’s 3 pm performance. On November 12 at 7pm, Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Boston Lyric Opera welcome the world-class bass to present a master class to Boston Conservatory at Berklee students and Boston Lyric Opera’s Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artists as part of the Opera Innovators Series. More info here.
Diego Torre as Radamès
Michelle Johnson as Aida
Giuseppe Verdi and his librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni pack an impressive amount of action into Aida, which runs almost three hours. There are no dull moments, no lulls in the plot. Set in ancient Egypt, during a war with Ethiopia, Aida is a tragic story of enemies in love. Its eponymous heroine is an Ethiopian slave, daughter of the king. Both Aida and Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king, are in love with Radamès, the leader of the Egyptian army. As a result of his success in war, the Egyptian king offers the hand of his daughter Amneris in marriage to Radamès, who is in love with Aida. When Aida convinces Radamès to betray Egypt in order to save her own people, he is condemned to death. Aida sneaks into the tomb in which Radamès is sealed and so shares his fate.
Stefan Egerstrom as King of Egypt
Alice Chung as Amneris
photos by Nile Scott Studios
Aida
Boston Lyric Opera
Emerson Colonial Theater, 106 Boylston Street in Boston
Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 3pm
for tickets (starting at $48), visit BLO
Boston Lyric Opera Gala
Hilton Boston Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Park Plaza
Sunday November 10, 2024 at 6pm
for gala tickets (beginning at $1,500), visit blo.org/aida.