Premieres nationwide Sunday, January 20 at 12 p.m. on PBS (check local listings)

Season 13 of Great Performances at the Met begins Sunday, January 20 at 12 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with Verdi’s grandest of grand operas, Aida. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, the opera stars vocal powerhouses Anna Netrebko in the title role and Anita Rachvelishvili as Amneris as they go toe to toe in this classic love story featuring a number of Verdi’s most celebrated arias. Aleksandrs Antonenko, Dmitry Belosselskiy and Ryan Speedo Green round out the cast.

Sonja Frisell’s production is set in ancient Egypt, where Ethiopian princess Aida has been enslaved, but her royal identity remains a secret. The captured princess is in love with Radamès, the great warrior who dreams of leading the Egyptians to victory over the Ethiopians as a war between the two nations is on the horizon. Trouble arises as the Egyptian Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris sets her sights on winning Radamès’s love, but suspects he is infatuated with another woman after the warrior does not return her feelings. A rivalry ensues when Aida confesses her love for Radamès and Amneris vows revenge. Torn between a love for one another and loyalty to their respective countries, Aida and Radamès must battle public duties and private feelings in this epic love story. Isabel Leonard hosts.

Air dates

National: Sunday, January 20 at 12 p.m.
New York: Sunday, January 20 at 1 p.m. on THIRTEEN

Notable Talent:

Anna Netrebko – Aida
Anita Rachvelishvili – Amneris
Aleksandrs Antonenko – Radamès
Quinn Kelsey – Amonasro
Dmitry Belosselskiy – Ramfis
Ryan Speedo Green – The King
Isabel Leonard – Host

Run time: 3 hours

Production Credits:

Nicola Luisotti – Conductor
Sonja Frisell – Production
Gianni Quaranta – Set Designer
Dada Saligeri – Costume Designer
Gil Wechsler – Lighting Designer
Alexei Ratmansky – Choreographer

For the Met, Gary Halvorson directs the telecast. Tim Martyn is Music Producer. Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park are Supervising Producers, and Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik are Producers. Peter Gelb is Executive Producer. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is Series Producer; David Horn is Executive Producer.

Underwriters:

Corporate support for Great Performances at the Met is provided by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder®. Major funding for the Met Opera presentation is provided by M. Beverly and Robert G. Bartner, the National Endowment for the Arts. This Great Performances presentation is funded by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Agnes Varis Trust, public television viewers.

Series Overview:

Great Performances at the Met is a presentation of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET, bringing the best of the Metropolitan Opera into the homes of classical music fans across the United States.