2016–17 SEASON

Aida

Verdi’s grand Egyptian epic returns in a bold new production inspired by contemporary artist RETNA. This intimate love story of an Egyptian military hero, Radames, and a captured Ethiopian princess, Aida, features San Francisco Opera favorites Brian Jagde and Leah Crocetto.

Music by Giuseppe Verdi | Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni

Sung in Italian with English supertitles

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Running Time

Approximately 2 hours, 54 minutes with one intermission

Who Should See It

Great first opera. Fans of contemporary art and Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Pre-Opera Talks

Pre-Opera Talks are free to ticketholders and take place in the Orchestra section, 55 minutes prior to curtain.

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Saturday	11/05/16	7:30PM
Tuesday	11/08/16	7:30PM
Friday	11/11/16	7:30PM
Monday	11/14/16	7:30PM
Thursday	11/17/16	7:30PM *
Wednesday	11/23/16	7:30PM
Wednesday	11/30/16	7:30PM *
Saturday	12/03/16	7:30PM *
Tuesday	12/06/16	7:30PM
Sunday	11/20/16	2:00PM *
Sunday	11/27/16	2:00PM

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REVIEWS

Leah Crocetto continues to amaze!

San Francisco Chronicle

Bold, contemporary designs by Los Angeles street artist RETNA.

San Francisco Examiner

Vibrant, abstract...San Francisco Opera’s new production of the opera powerfully steers Aida away from its origins in 19th-century orientalism and into the present day.

San Francisco Classical Voice

Brian Jagde sounded firm and muscular in the Act I aria, ‘Celeste Aida,’ and his performance grew increasingly ardent and expressive as the evening progressed.

The Mercury News

Leah Crocetto brought both sonic splendor and elegant phrasing.

San Francisco Chronicle

Conductor Nicola Luisotti harnessed the potency of the Orchestra, well-measured and luxurious.

San Francisco Examiner

Synopsis

A captive Ethiopian princess must choose between patriotic duty and love for an enemy Egyptian captain.

Read Complete Synopsis ›

Cast & Creative

Cast

Aida	Leah Crocetto
Amneris	Ekaterina Semenchuk
Radames	Brian Jagde
Amonasro	George Gagnidze
Ramfis	Raymond Aceto
King of Egypt	Anthony Reed
A Priestess	Toni Marie Palmertree
A Messenger	Pene Pati

Performances

November 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 27, and 30
December 3 and 6, 2016

Crew

Conductor	Nicola Luisotti ¹
Conductor	Jordi Bernàcer ²
Director	Francesca Zambello
Associate Director	E. Loren Meeker
Artistic Designer	RETNA*
Set Designer	Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer	Anita Yavich
Lighting Designer	Mark McCullough
Choreographer	Jessica Lang*
Associate Choreographer	Clifton Brown*
Chorus Director	Ian Robertson
Fight Director	Dave Maier

* San Francisco Opera Debut

¹November 5, 6, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 27, 30, and December 3

²December 6

A production premiere

A co-production with Washington National Opera, Seattle Opera, and Minnesota Opera

Previous performances of Aida can be found in our Archive.

Program Articles

"Aida" as Chamber Opera

Any production of Aida is doomed to fail unless it gets across the central idea that Verdi was grappling with: individuals pushing against events and traditions that are finally much bigger than they are.

When "Aida" Conquered the Silver Screen

The 1953 motion picture Aida is considered today a landmark in the opera-film genre.

Director's Note

Director Francesca Zambello describes the origins and influences behind this new production of Verdi's masterpiece.

You May Also Enjoy

Rigoletto

May 31–July 1, 2017

Don Giovanni

June 4–30, 2017

La Bohème

June 10–July 2, 2017

See our full season line-up ›

Made Possible By

This production is made possible, in part, by: John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn; the San Francisco Opera Guild; Chevron; Jan Shrem & Maria Manetti Shrem, through the Conductors Fund, the Emerging Stars Fund and the Great Interpreters of Italian Opera Fund; and Joan and David Traitel, through the Great Singers Fund.

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Photo (top): Courtesy of Iron Eye Art Group