drag her away in Aida’s place. Aida is horrified, and realises that she must go to Radames and tell him who she really is. Mereb fails to convince her to stay and lead her people to freedom. Aida finds Radames as he walks the Nile. He tells her that he plans to call off the wedding, but Aida, realising that his plan will jeopardise her father’s escape, begs him to reconsider. Aida explains that she and Radames can never have a life together because it has been written in the stars. Radames finally accepts that he and Aida can never be together. He tells her that, during his wedding, he will arrange for her safe passage to Nubia. As the lovers depart, Amneris emerges from the shadows. She has seen everything. As she is dressed by her four handmaidens for her wedding, she admits that she is not the true love of Radames. The Royal Wedding is interrupted by the announcement that the Nubian King has escaped. Radames commands that “No one must reach the dock before I arrive there.” And chaos ensues. A small boat floats at the water’s edge, tied to the dock by a heavy rope. Mereb, helps King Amonasro into the boat knowing that the Egyptians have sounded the alarm. Radames enters and accuses Aida of pretending to love him to arrange this escape with her father the King. Aida explains that she truly loves Radames, just as Zoser enters to stop the escape. A fight erupts in which Mereb is killed by Zoser and Radames, in a move to save Nubia, cuts the rope, allowing King Amonasro to be swept to away to his kingdom with the fast current of the Nile. Aida is left with Mereb’s dead body in her arms as Radames comforts her. Radames and Aida appear in chains before Amneris. Amneris begs Radames to reject Aida to save himself, but he confesses that Aida’s “courage and her love for her people have put me to shame.” The Pharaoh enters, announces that Zoser has been apprehended, and sentences Radames and Aida to death. Amneris convinces the Pharaoh to allow her to sentence Radames and Aida to “be buried beneath the sands of Egypt, on one tomb … together.” Amneris runs off, unable to watch as Aida and Radames are led to their death. Aida and Radames contemplate their lives and how they are to leave this life. Once in the tomb, Aida and Radames promise to find each other if they have to “search for a hundred life times.” We return to our own time and the museum. Once again, the contemporary crowd gathers around various exhibits. The man and the woman circle the model of the tomb. They look up. Their eyes meet. The man and woman move towards each other. CAST: • AMNERIS A beautiful, if materialistic, Egyptian Princess, daughter of the Pharaoh. (Mezzo-Soprano: Low E - High F) • RADAMES A handsome, Egyptian Captain, son of Zoser, who enjoys the adventures of war without realizing its devastation. He is a good man who wants to be a better man. (Tenor: A flat - B flat) • AIDA A beautiful Nubian Princess, daughter of King Amonasro, who truly loves her people and will sacrifice everything for their happiness. ( Mezzo-Soprano: Low F - High F) • MEREB A young Nubian slave and servant to Radames, who is faithful to his Nubian heritage and dreams of a better life for his people. ( Tenor: G - B flat) • ZOSER A manipulative and evil Chief Minister of Egypt, father of Radames. He is power-hungry and lives without scruples. (Baritone: F - F) • PHARAOH Leader of Egypt and father of Amneris. • NEHEBKA A Nubian slave. (Mezzo-Soprano: A - D) • AMONASRO King of Nubia and father of Aida. An honorable and peaceful man. • ENSEMBLE : - Males: Low G - High A: Females: Low B flat - High A flat MUSICAL NUMBERS: 1. Every Story Is A Love Story - Amneris 2. Fortune Favors The Brave - Radames, Soldiers 3. The Past Is Another Land - Aida 4. Another Pyramid - Zoser, Ministers 5. How I Know You - Mereb, Aida 6. My Strongest Suit - Amneris, Women of the Palace
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