The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington will be presenting "Aida," with music by Giuseppe Verdi and libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. This opera is a new co-production with San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, and Minnesota Opera. Princess Aida (played by Tamara Wilson), a young woman captured by the Egyptians, secretly loves military hero Radamès. Amneris, the pharaoh’s daughter, becomes friends with Aida but wants Radames for herself. This starts another jealousy story. The striking sets and costumes are inspired by LA based contemporary artist RETNA, whose uses hieroglyphics and calligraphy. It is Verdi's expressive music that makes "Aida" a classic tale of love.

Verdi was born near Busseto in Italy and came to dominate the Italian opera scene after the era of Belline, Donizetti and Rossine, whose works significantly influenced him. "Aida" met with great acclaim when it opened in Cairo in 1871. Notably, Verdi did not attend the premiere in Cairo as he was upset with the fact that the audience consisted of great dignatories but no members of the general public. He therefore considered the Milan premiere, held the following year, to be its real premiere where he was involved from the very beginning in all its aspects.