Aida
A Transformation
from Opera to Musical
Verdi’s AIDA
Jessica Carter
Jon Chang
Julie Len
Aaron Meyer
Elton John and
Tim Rice’s AIDA
Overview
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Love triangle between Aida, Radames, and
Amneris
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Radames unintentionally betrays his country out
of love for Aida
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Radames is sentenced to entombment
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Aida secretly hides herself in the grave to die
with Radames
Plot
Verdi’s Opera

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Tragic
Serious
Emphasis on religion
Broadway Musical
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Romanticized
Light-hearted and
Comical
Written for a larger
audience
Aida and Radames find each other in a museum
Characters
Opera
Musical
Amneris
Jealous, paranoid,
obsessive
Threatens, tricks
Violent, villanous
Slightly sympathetic
Clothes
Clueless until end
Aida
More submissive
Doesn’t vocalize
agenda
Independent
Courageous
Radames Chosen by gods to
lead battle against
Ethiopia
Prevents genocide
Light-hearted
Admires Aida’s strength
Prevents genocide
Other Characters
Opera
 Preist-wants to
execute slaves
Musical’s Twists:
 Zoser- evil; poisons
Pharaoh
 Mereb -humor
 Amonasro-not as
prominent
Music
Opera
 traditional classical music
 Full orchestra with acoustic instruments
 Big chorus
Musical
 Simple melodies, chords and harmonies
 Rock band, with few orchestral instruments
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(3 keyboards, bass, guitar, drums, percussion, oboe, flute,
cello, violin, French horn)
The use of electronic instruments and sounds
Use of reprises
Use of re-occurring themes and motifs in the
orchestrations by Paul Bogaev and Steve Margoshes
Sets and Costumes

Opera
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Filmed at an actual production at the
Metropolitan Opera House
Simple sets and costumes; not many changes
Sets
Aida gives the Nubians hope and courage in “Dance of the Robe”
Sets
Aida, Radames, and Amneris: The Love Triangle
Conclusion
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Theme of opera: tragic love
Theme of musical: fairy-tale love
Transformation:
Verdi’s opera version of Aida is
transformed by Elton John to a musical
made for popular culture, making the
story more entertaining and up-lifting.