

Giuseppe Verdi
Composer
Antonio Ghislanzoni
Librettist
April 14, 2023 at 7:00pm
April 16, 2023 at 2:00pm
Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU
Featuring the FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conducted by Elaine Rinaldi
In Italian
Running time: approximately 3 hours with one intermission
About
First presented by FWO in 1958, and last seen in 1999, Giuseppe Verdi’s grandest opera AIDA, performs as a concert production with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, AIDA tells the fateful story of forbidden love between an enslaved Ethiopian princess, and an Egyptian military commander. AIDA was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its premiere there in December of 1871.
Making her debut with FWO is Argentinian singer and director Malena Dayen. Malena is a 2022/23 Princeton Hodder fellow and she recently directed and performed in Firesongs, a new piece by Thomas Cabaniss that premiered at Chelsea Factory in collaboration with National Sawdust in New York City. Elaine Rinaldi will also make her FWOpera debut as the first female conductor in our 75 year history! She is the founder and artistic director of Orchestra Miami, a professional symphonic ensemble based in Miami, Florida.
This larger-than-life concert production will feature Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago star Michelle Bradley in the title performance that earned her great acclaim in Prague, and the American operatic tenor Ben Gulley will sing the role of Radames. Grammy Award winning American mezzo soprano Tichina Vaughn, who has established an important presence among the world’s leading opera houses, concert halls and theaters will sing the role of Amneris. Grammy and Emmy-Award winning baritone Reginald Smith Jr. will sing the role of the Amonasro. Also in the cast are basses Kevin Thompson as the King, Kenneth Kellogg as Ramfis, soprano Adia Evans as the High Priestess and Nathanial Catasca as the Messenger.
Join FWO as we mingle with artists and VIP ticket holders to celebrate our week-long foray into the glorious music and history of this timeless story of love and betrayal. The party begins post performance on April 16th at Arts Fort Worth, 6:00pm - 8:30pm. Get your VIP tickets today!
Fort Worth Opera will present a symposium series at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth Auditorium. Click the link below to learn more about this series and to purchase tickets!
Cast

Michelle Bradley
Aida

Tichina Vaughn
Amneris

Ben Gulley
Radames

Reginald Smith, Jr.
Amonasro

Kevin Thompson
the King

Kenneth Kellogg
Ramfis

Adia Evans
the High Priestess

Nathaniel Catasca
the Messenger
Creative

Malena Dayen
Director

Elaine Rinaldi
Conductor

Chad R. Jung
Lighting Designer