In 1868, in honor of the opening of the Suez Canal and the new Cairo opera house, Giuseppe Verdi was commissioned to write a new opera with an Egyptian setting. At first reticent, Verdi finally accepted the offer after becoming better acquainted with the story of the enslaved Ethiopian princess Aida.
Aida's author was the eminent French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette who had deciphered the legend from ancient papyrus. The story is based on the lengthly struggle between Egypt and Ethiopia (Nubia). Sets and costumes for the original production were based on Mariette's own sketches.
The story was translated into French by librettist Camille du Locle (1832-1903). The Italian libretto is by Antonio Ghislanzoni (1824-1893). The Cairo premiere was held on December 24, 1871, but its first Italian performance took place the following year, February 8, in Milan, with Verdi himself conducting. Both premieres were triumphant successes.
