Original subtitles

24 December 1871

At the Khedivial theatre, Cairo

is performed for the first time "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi:

A memorable event that will leave indelible traces

in the history of art:

The desperate love story of Aida and Radames

will live for ever through the immortal music of Verdi:

From the distant borders of Ethiopia,

a patrol of the Egyptian army,

rides non-stop on its way from land to land,

the echo of a war that has flared like lightning:

The news that hordes invaded the land of their country,

must be brought as soon as possible to Memphis: the capital:

Where the Pharaoh and the council of priests of Isis

take inspiration from the Goddess,

to appoint the supreme commander of the army:

And here in Memphis, is the palace of the king!

Here Aida, the beautiful Ethiopian slave passes her radiant youth

in the wake of Amneris, daughter of the Pharaoh:

She loves and is loved by Radames

young warrior prince;

and does not know how to hide her impossible love

from the eyes of her mistress:

Amneris, jealous and wounded by anxiety,

lives without peace:

Yes, it is rumored that the Ethiop dares once again

our power in the valley of Nilus, threaten as well as Thebes.

The truth from messengers I soon shall know.

Hast thou consulted the will of Isis?

She has declared who of Egypt's renowned

Armies shall be leader.

Oh happy mortal!

Young in years is he and dauntless.

The dread commandment

I to the King shall take.

What if 'tis I am chosen?

Ah my dream be now accomplished!

Of a glorious army I the chosen leader

mine glorious victory by Memphis received in triumph!

To thee returned, Aida,

my brow entwined with laurel

Tell thee, for thee I battled, for thee

I conquered!

Heav'nly Aida,

beauty resplendent,

Radiant flower

blooming and bright;

Queenly thou reignest

o'er me transcendent,

Bathing my spirit

in beauty's light.

Would that thy bright skies once more beholding,

Breathing the soft airs of thy native land;

Round thy fair brow

a diadem folding,

Thine were a throne

next the sun to stand.

Heav'nly Aida

beauty resplendent,

Radiant flower

blooming and bright;

Queenly thou reignest

o'er me transcendent,

Bathing my spirit

in beauty's light.

Would that thy bright skies once more beholding,

Breathing the soft airs of thy native land;

Round thy fair brow a diadem folding,

Thine were a throne

next the sun to stand.

a throne next the sun to stand.

a throne next the sun to stand.

In thy visage I trace a joy unwonted!

What martial ardour is beaming in thy noble glances!

Ah me, how worthy were of all envy

the woman whose dearly wished for presence could have power

to kindle in thee such rapture.

A dream of proud ambition in my heart I was nursing.

Isis this day has declared by name warrior chief appointed

to lead to battle Egypt's hosts;

ah, for this honour

say what if I were chosen!

Has not another vision,

one more sweet, more enchanting,

found favour in your heart?

Is there in Memphis

no attraction

more charming?

Aida!

He is troubled.

ne'er lover gazed with more raptured eyes!

Aida! Should I discover one who with me now vies

Come hither thou I dearly prize,

slave art thou none, nor menial;

thee have I made by fondest ties

sister, a name more genial.

Weepest thou? The secret let me know,

wherefore thy tears now flow.

Alas! The cry of war I hear,

vast host I see assemble,

therefor the country's fate I fear,

for me, for all I tremble.

And art thou sure

no deeper woe now bids thy tears to flow?

Mighty the cause that summons round the King the faithful sons

of Egypt.

From the Ethiops' land a messenger this moment has reached us,

news of grave import

brings he.

Be pleased to hear him!

The sacred limits of Egyptian soil is by Ethiops invaded,

our fertile fields lie all devastated, destroyed our harvest.

Emboldened by so easy a victory

the plundering hordes to the capital are marching.

Presumptuous daring!

They are led by a warrior as fierce as he is dauntless:

- Amonasro. - The King!

My father!

All Thebes has risen, and from her hundred portals has poured on the invader

a torrent fierce, fraught with relentless carnage.

Yes, death and battle be our rallying cry!

Battle, battle!

And carnage, war unrelenting!

Isis, revered goddess, already has appointed

the warrior chief, with power supreme invested.

Radames!

Ye Gods, I thank you!

My dearest wish is crowned!

Now unto the holy temple,

warrior brave,

there to gird thee to victory, donning sacred armour.

Up, Egyptians brave,

guard the shores of Nilus' sacred river,

unto death the foe deliver,

Egypt they never shall enslave.

Glory render, glory abiding,

to our Gods all mortals guiding;

peace or war alone deciding,

their protection let us crave.

From my hand, thou warrior glorious,

take thy standard aye victorious,

let it ever lead the way

for thy opponent's overthrow.

Battle, battle,

Thy brow may laurels crown!

Thy brow may laurels crown!

Aida

what madness led you to unite your voice

to the calls for victory against your home land,

against your father, against your brothers,

ready to give their lives for your freedom!

Poor Aida, your heart is in turmoil,

and the incredible words burn your lips like a curse.

Thy brow may laurels crown!

What! Can my lips pronounce language so impious!

Wish him victor o'er my father!

o'er him who wages war

But that I may be restored to my country, To my kingdom, to the high station

I now perforce dissemble!

Wish him conqueror O'er my brothers!

E'en now I see him stained with their blood so cherished,

'mid the clamorous triumph

of Egyptian battalions!

Behind his chariot a king, my father comes, his fettered captive!

Ye gods watching o'er me, those words deem unspoken!

A father restore me, his daughter heart-broken;

Oh, scatter, oh scatter

their armies, forever crush our foe!

What wild words do I utter?

of my affection

Have I no recollection?

That sweet love that consoled me, a captive pining,

Like some bright sunny ray on my sad lot shining!

Shall I invoke destruction on the man

For whom with love I languish?

Ah! ne'er yet on this earth lived one

Whose heart was crushed

beneath such anguish!

The names so holy of father, of lover,

No more dare I utter or e'en recall,

Abashed and trembling, to Heaven would hover

My prayer for both, for both my tears would fall.

Ah, woe! transformed seemed my prayers to blaspheming,

To suffer is a crime, dark sin to weep,

My senses lost, wrapt in deep night are dreaming,

To my grave would in sorrow I might creep!

Merciful Gods,

look from on high!

Pity these tears

hopelessly shed,

Love! mystic power,

mystic and dread,

Break, break my weak heart,

let me now die!

Merciful Gods,

look from on high!

Merciful Gods, look from on high!

Merciful Gods,

look from on high!

Merciful

Gods,

look from

on high!

Hail mighty Phth�,

that wakest in all things breathing

Lo! we invoke thee!

Hail mighty Phth�, that makest

All fruitful things grow rife,

Lo! we invoke thee!

Hail mighty Phth�, that makest

Lo! we invoke thee!

Hear us, oh guardian deity,

Our sacred land protecting,

Thy mighty hand extending,

Danger, danger, to Egypt ward!

Victory is to the Egyptians!

The remains of the decimated Ethiopian army

are in chains at the mercy of the victor:

Amonaso the defeated King was among the common prisoners,

but his look of a wounded beast

flashes hatred towards the victor,

who with his head held high approaches the honour of triumph:

Amneris meanwhile, lets herself be lulled by the sweet illusion

of having to herself the love of Radames:

An invincible disturbance blurs the joy that should enliven her:

The mere presence of Aida with her fatal beauty

again assails the anguish of doubt and of jealousy:

But she knows how to feign, and will want to investigate:

Will want to know...

Our songs

his glory praising Heavenward waft a name

Whose deeds the sun outblazing

Eclipse his dazzling flame.

Come bind thy flowing tresses round while loud our songs of praise resound

Come, love, with rapture fill me,

To joy my heart restore!

To joy my heart restore!

Ah, cease now, 'tis Aida who this way advances,

Child of the conquered, to me her grief is sacred.

Once more to see her my soul again with doubt is tortured

Thy dread secret at last shall be surrendered!

'Neath the chances of battle

succumb thy people, O hapless Aida;

the sorrows that afflict thee Be sure I feel as keenly;

Time will bring comfort

And heal your present anguish

Greater than time

the healing power of

love is.

Nay, tell me, then, what new fledged love assails my gentle Aida?

Unbosom all thy secret thoughts, come, trust securely in my affection;

Come, trust securely in my affection;

Amongst the warriors who fought

Fatally against thy country

It may be that one has wakened

- In thee gentle thoughts of love. - What meanest thou?

The cruel fate of war not all alike embraces,

And then the dauntless warrior Who leads the host may perish!

- What dost thou tell me? - Yes.

- Yes, Radames by thine is slaughtered - And canst thou mourn him?

For ever my tears shall flow!

The Gods have wrought thee vengeance.

Tremble! thou art discovered!

Thou lovest him, ne'er deny it.

Gaze on my visage

I told thee falsely

Radames liveth!

Gods, I thank ye!

Dost hope still now deceive me?

Yes, thou lovest him; so e'en do I

Dost hear my words? Behold thy rival here

In a Pharaoh's daughter.

Thou my rival! What though it were so?

I too

Heed not my words, but spare

and pardon!

Ah! on all my anguish sweet pity take,

'Tis true that all else for his love I'd forsake,

While thou art mighty

all joy's thy dower,

Naught save my love have I left in life!

In the pageant now preparing

Shall a part by thee be taken,

Thou the dust, slave abject, biting,

On the throne while I find room!

With me inviting, thou ere long shalt learn thy doom.

Hither advance, oh glorious band,

Mingle your joy with ours,

Green bays and fragrant flowers

Scatter their path

along.

Hither advance, oh glorious band, mingle your joy with ours,

Green bays and fragrant flowers

Scatter their path along.

Mingle your joy with ours,

Green bays and fragrant flowers

Scatter their path along.

Saviour brave of thy country, Egypt salutes thee!

Hither now advance, and on thy head

My daughter will place the crown of triumph.

What thou askest freely I'll grant it;

naught can be denied thee on such a day:

I swear it by the crown I am wearing

by Heaven above us.

First deign to order that the captives be before you brought.

What see I? He here? My father?

And in our power!

- Thou captive made! - Tell not my rank.

Come forward!

So then thou art

Her father!

I joined the war

Fought, and was conquered.

Death I vainly sought.

This my habit has told you

already.

I my king, I my country defended.

Adverse fortune against us ran steady,

Vainly sought we the fates to defy.

At my feet in the dust lay extended

Our King, countless wounds had transpierced him;

If to fight for the country that nursed him

Make one guilty, we are ready to die.

But, O King, in thy power transcendent,

Spare the lives on thy mercy dependent,

By the fates though to-day overtaken,

Say, who can tomorrow's event descry.

O King, by Heaven above us, and by the crown upon thy brow,

Whate'er I asked thee thou wouldst grant it.

Say on!

I pray, freedom and life to freely grant

unto these Ethiop captives here.

Hear me, O King: And thou too,

Dauntless young hero,

list to the voice of prudence:

They are foes to battle hardened,

In them vengeance ne'er will die,

Growing bolder if now pardoned

They to arms once more will fly.

With Amonasro, their warrior king,

All hopes of revenge have perished.

At least as earnest of safety and of peace

Keep we back fair Aida's father;

I yield me to thy counsel,

Of safety now and peace a bond more certain will I give you.

Radames, to thee our debt is unbounded.

Amneris my daughter shall be thy guerdon.

Thou shalt hereafter

o'er Egypt with her hold conquering sway.

Now let yon bondmaid

Rob me of my love, she dares not!

The echo of the triumphal celebrations has gone now,

into the immensity of the night:

And the Nile flows silently between boundless, deserted banks:

But this peace cannot mitigate the anguish of Aida,

Radames belongs to another:

He has obtained the freedom of the Ethiopian prisoners

but not that of Aida, who will always remain in bondage

silent, desperate witness to his marriage to Amneris,

escorted by her maids

in the company of the high priest, Amneris

close to the fulfilment of her dreams of love,

goes to the temple to give thanks to the gods:

Even Aida will come: by another way, with a different heart:

lt will perhaps be the last meeting with the man she loves,

at the height of distress,

alone with her hopeless love

She brings to mind thoughts of death!

He will ere long be here!

What would he tell me?

I tremble!

Ah, if thou comest to bid me, harsh man,

farewell for ever,

Then, Nilus, thy dark and rushing stream

Hides me forever;

peace shall I find there

peace shall I find there and oblivion!

Thee my native land

ne'er more shall I behold!

ne'er more

ne'er more shall I behold!

O skies cerulean, breezes soft blowing,

Where brightly calmness saw life's blithe morn unfold,

Sweet sloping verdure

by streams so softly flowing,

Thee my native land

ne'er more shall I behold!

Thee my native land

ne'er more shall I behold!

Thee my native land

ne'er more

shall I behold!

Heaven! my father!

To thee, Aida, I come for gravest reasons.

Naught escapes my attention;

For Radames thour't dying of love.

He loves thee, thou awaitest him.

A daughter of the Pharaohs is thy rival

Race accursed, detested, to us aye fatal!

And I am in her grasp, I, Amonasro's daughter!

In her power thou? No!

If thou wishest,

Thy all-powerful rival thou shalt vanquish;

Thy country, thy sceptre,

thy love, all shall be thine.

Once again shalt thou on our balmy forests,

Our verdant valleys, our golden temples gaze!

Once again shall I on our balmy forests,

Our verdant valleys, our golden temples gaze.

The happy bride of thy heart's dearest treasure,

Delight unbounded there shalt thou enjoy.

Ah, but one day of such enchanting pleasure,

Nay, but an hour of bliss so sweet, then let me die!

then let me die!

Our people armed are panting for the signal;

now to strike the blow. Success is sure:

Naught but one thing is wanting

That we know by what path will march the foe.

Who that path will discover?

- Canst tell? - Thyself will!

Myself!

Radames, whom thou expects,

will tell thee;

He commands the Egyptians,

and loves thee.

Thought hateful!

What promptst thou me to do?

No! no!

ask it not!

Thou'rt not my daughter!

No! of the Pharaohs

thou art a bondmaid.

Have mercy, pray!

Have mercy, pray!

Father, no, their slave

am I no longer.

Ah, with thy curse

do not appal me,

Still thine own daughter

thou mayst call me,

Ne'er shall my country

Ne'er shall my country

her child disdain.

Think that thy race

downtrampled by the conqueror,

Through thee alone can their freedom gain.

Through thee alone can their freedom gain.

Oh then, my country than love has proved the stronger.

my country

than love has proved the stronger.

Have courage! he comes!

there I'll remain.

I see thee again, my sweet Aida!

Advance not! Hence! What hopes are thine?

Love led me hither in hope to meet thee.

Thou to another thy hand must resign. The Princess weds thee!

What say'st thou? Thee only, Aida, e'er can I love.

Once more of deadly strife with hope unfading

The Ethiopians have lighted the brand;

Already they our borders have invaded.

While Egypt's armies I shall command,

When shouts of triumph greet me victorious,

To our kind monarch my love disclosing,

Thee will I claim, thee my guerdon glorious.

With thee live ever in peace reposing.

Thee will I claim, thee my guerdon glorious.

With thee live ever in peace reposing.

Yet, if thou lovest me,

then still offers A means for our safety.

- Name it! - To fly!

Ah, fly from where these burning skies,

Are all beneath them blighting;

Towards regions new we'll turn our eyes,

Our faithful love inviting.

There where the virgin forests rise,

There where the virgin forests rise,

'Mid fragrance softly stealing,

The world we'll quite forget, 'mid loving bliss.

To distant countries ranging with thee thou bidst me fly,

For other lands exchanging all 'neath my native sky.

The land these arms have guarded, that first fame's crown awarded,

When I first thee regarded

How can I e'er forget?

How can I e'er forget?

But tell me by what path shall we avoid alighting on the soldiers?

By the path we have chosen to fall on the Ethiops, 'twill be vacant until to-morrow.

- Say, which is that? - The gorges of Napata!

Of Napata! 'tis well then. There will I post my troops.

- Who has overheard us? - I, Aida's father, Ethiopia's King.

Thou! Amonasro! Thou the King?

Heaven! what say'st thou? No! it is false!

No! it is false!

My name forever branded!

For thee I've played the traitor.

No, guilt can never fall on thee,

Come where beyond the Nile arrayed warriors brave are waiting;

There love thy fond wish sating

Thou shalt be happy made.

- Come then, come then... - Traitor!

Die then!

Guards! quick, follow!

Holy Priest, to thee I yield.

Radames, for the love of Aida

to flee with her and achieve a dream of happiness,

has revealed the secret passage way of the Egyptian army:

But it was all in vain!

Surprised by Amneris and the high priest,

while Aida and her father fled,

Radames voluntarily gives himself up as prisoner:

Now, the severe judgment of the supreme court

awaits him:

Amneris

still madly in love, tries to save him,

if only he renounces his love for Aida:

But Radames belongs to another now!

He has already chosen!

Preferring infamy and death:

Now to the hall the priests proceed

Where judgment thou art waiting,

Yet is there hope from this foul deed

Thyself of disculpating.

Once clear to gain thy pardon,

I at the throne's foot kneeling

For mercy dear appealing,

For mercy dear appealing, life will I bring to thee.

Dishonour awaits me, my death thou fearest?

Wretched thou mad'st life ever

From Aida mine to sever;

Haply thou hast slain her

Yet offerest life to me?

I on her life lay guilty hands!

- No! Aida lives yet! - Living!

When routed, fled the savage bands, to fate war's chances giving,

- Perished her father! - And she then!

Vanished, nor ought heard we then further.

The gods her path guide then, safe to her home

Guard her too e'er from learning that for her sake I die.

But if I save thee wilt thou swear

- Her sight e'er to resign? - I cannot!

Swear to renounce her for ever, life shall be thine.

- I cannot! - Once more thy answer,

- Wilt thou renounce her? - No! Never!

Life's thread wouldst thou then sever?

Ready for death am I.

Ah me! death's hand approaches!

who now will save him?

Behold of death

The ministers fatal, his merciless judges.

Ah let me not behold those white robed phantoms!

He is now in their power,

His sentence I have sealed

His sentence...

I have sealed

He is now in their power, his sentence I have sealed

Radames

Radames

Radames

thou hast betrayed of thy country, the secrets

to aid the foeman.

Defend thyself!

Defend thyself!

He is silent.

Traitor vile!

Pity O heaven

His heart is guiltless Pity, O Heaven

Radames

Radames

Radames

and thou wast absent from the camp

the very day before the combat!

Defend thyself!

Defend thyself!

He is silent.

Traitor vile!

Pity, O Heaven

Radames

Radames

Radames

And thou hast played the part of a traitor

to King, and to honour!

Defend thyself!

Defend thyself!

He is silent.

Traitor vile!

Pity

Pity, O Heaven

Radames, we thy fate have decided,

Of all traitors the fate shall be thine

'Neath the altar whose God thou'st derided

'Neath the altar whose God thou'st derided

Thou a sepulcher living shalt find.

Find a sepulcher living! hated wretches!

Ever vengeful, bloodthirsty and blind.

Yet who serve of kind Heaven the shrine.

Traitor vile!

Traitor vile!

Priest of Heaven: thou death hast inflicted

On whom well ye know once I treasured;

May a broken heart's curses unmeasured

With his blood on thy guilty head fall!

None can his doom recall!

Earthly justice and Heaven's

you are insulting,

Recall!

On the guiltless

your sentence will fall.

Traitor vile!

Traitor vile!

Impious priesthood,

curses light on ye all!

On your heads Heaven's

vengeance will fall!

The fatal stone upon me now

is closing,

Now has the tomb engulfed me.

I never more the light shall behold.

Ne'er more see gentle Aida.

Dear Aida, where now art thou?

Whate'er befalls me may'st thou be happy.

Ne'er may my frightful doom

Reach thy gentle ear.

What groan was that? Tis a phantom!

Some vision dread.

No! sure that form is human!

Heaven! 'tis Aida.

Yes! Aida!

Thou, with me here buried!

My heart forboded this thy dreadful sentence,

And to this tomb that shuts on thee its portal

I crept unseen by mortal.

Here from all where none can behold us,

Clasped in thy arms

I resolved to perish.

To perish! so pure and lovely!

To die, thine own self dooming,

In all thy beauty blooming,

In all thy beauty blooming,

Fade thus forever!

Thou whom the heav'n only for love created

But to destroy thee was my love then fated!

Ah no! those eyes so dear I prize

For death are too lovely!

That sad chanting!

It is our death chant resounding!

Cannot my lusty sinews move from its place

- this fatal stone? - 'Tis vain!

all is over

Hope on earth have we none!

I fear it! I fear it!

Farewell, O earth!

farewell thou vale of sorrow!

Brief dream of joy condemned to end in woe!

See, brightly opens the sky,

opens the sky, an endless morrow

There all unshadowed

eternal shall glow!

Farewell, O earth! farewell thou vale of sorrow!

Brief dream of joy condemned to end in woe!

See, brightly opens the sky,

opens the sky, an endless morrow

opens the sky

There all unshadowed eternal shall glow!

Peace everlasting,

lov'd one, mayst thou know

Isis, relenting,

greet thee on high!

Peace everlasting,

Peace everlasting,

Peace

Subtitles: Corvusalbus