Organization

Conductor

García Navarro

Stage director

Sam Wanamaker

Set designer

Douglas W Schmidt

Costume designer

Lawrence Casey

Lighting designer

Thomas J Munn

Sound designer

Roger Gans

Chorus master

Richard Bradshaw

Choreographer

Marco Sappington

Video designer

Brian Large

Singer

Soprano

Margaret Price

Aida

Leontyne Price

Tenor

Luciano Pavarotti

Radames

Mezzo-soprano

Stefania Toczyska

Amneris

Baritone

Simon Estes

Amonasro

Bass

Kurt Rydl

Ramfis

Ferruccio Furlanetto

Kevin Langan

The King of Egypt

Susan Quittmeyer

A high priestess

Colenton Freeman

A messenger

San Francisco Opera

Others

San Francisco Opera Chorus

Orchestra

San Francisco Opera Orchestra

Members of the University of California Berkeley Chorus

Ballet

San Francisco Opera Ballet

Italian

A magnificent spectacle of stars, scenery and choreography, this version of Verdi's Aïda is remastered from Sam Wanamaker's landmark production.  It features monumental performances by Luciano Pavarotti as Radames and Margaret Price in the title role.  The tensions which arise from Radames' love for Aida, a slave who is the daughter of the Ethiopian chieftain, Amonasro, and the jealousy this provokes in the daughter in Amneris, daughter of the Egyptian king, are portrayed in some of Verdi's most famous music.

San Francisco

United States

War Memorial Opera House

An Aida with all the traditional trimmings, starring two of the greatest opera stars of the 20th century, Sam Wanamaker's 1981 production with Luciano Pavarotti as Radames and Margaret Price as Aida at the San Francisco Opera was one for the ages. Watch the captivating performance in this archival film.

Pavarotti in fine voice as a properly heroic Radames, Margaret Price floating melting pianissimos out into the audience, Stefania Toczyska's high-voltage singing... Sam Wanamaker's Aida is a delight for the eyes and the ears! Hollywood-like production values invested in the costumes and scenery bring ancient Egypt to life in grand style, and the Spanish conductor Garcia Navarro masterfully leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in Verdi's classic score.

Aida Verdi

Public

English

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading