Opera Aida is a standard in the Cairo Opera House repertoire. Usually performed once a year, this the large opera work by Giuseppe Verdi returns to the stage for the second time this season. Aida opened the Cairo Opera Company's 2012/2013 season with its performance in September 2012.

This time, again, the opera will be performed for four evenings, between 24 - 28 May (except 25 May), in the  Cairo Opera House Main Hall.

Aida is directed by late Abdel-Moneim Kamel with executive director Abdalla Saad and includes artists from the Cairo Opera Company; Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui; Cairo Opera Ballet Company with choreographer Erminia Kamel; Cairo Opera Choir and A Capella Choir with choir master Aldo Magnato.

Originally composed to premiere in Egypt, today, the opera Aida gains the high interest of international audiences and has become a staple performance of many renowned opera houses. Every month news of adaptations of Aida filter through from Europe, Asia, the Americas or Arab countries. 

Composed to the libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni and based on a story written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, commissioned by the Khedive Ismail Pasha, Aida was first performed at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo on 24 December 1871. Conductor Giovanni Bottesini led the opera and since then the Khedieval Opera House served as the home for Aida performances in Egypt, hosting many international soloists and conductors.

Later on, the opera was also performed at the pyramids as a mega production with over 1600 artists on stage (1987) and at the backdrop of the Deir Al-Bahari Temple, Hatchepsut Temple in Luxor (1994-1997). Since 1998, the opera was moved to Cairo and it was performed behind the pyramids in 1998, 1999 and 2000.  After that, the opera returned to the Cairo Opera House where it remained until 2009. It was in 2010 that Aida, once again, was held in the pyramids area and was performed at the Sound and Light location, with the pyramids and Sphinx as the backdrop. Following that, productions were held again inside the Cairo Opera House.

Programme:
24, 26, 27, 28 May, 8pm
Cairo Opera House Main Hall
Zamalek