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Aida

Opera · 1871

Aida, an enslaved Ethiopian princess, loves the Egyptian commander Radamès, who returns her love; the Egyptian princess Amneris also loves him. After Radamès defeats the Ethiopians, Aida’s father Amonasro is captured and reveals his identity. Radamès frees the prisoners but becomes engaged to Amneris. Amonasro persuades Aida to learn the army’s route from Radamès; when he reveals it, Radamès is arrested for treason. He is sentenced to be buried alive, and Aida hides in his tomb so they can die together.

Alban

Opera · 2009

In Roman Verulamium, a Christian priest escapes arrest and seeks refuge at Alban’s home. Alban is preparing to move his family to Sarum, but shelters the priest and is moved by his message. When soldiers return, Alban disguises himself in the priest’s clothes and is arrested in his place. At trial, the governor’s wife presses for an immediate death sentence despite Claudia’s plea for forgiveness. The executioner refuses to kill Alban and is put to death; another soldier carries out the execution.

Alcina

Opera · 1735

On the island of the sorceress Alcina, Ruggiero forgets his former life and falls under her spell. His fiancée Bradamante, disguised as her brother Ricciardo, arrives with his tutor Melisso to free him and Alcina’s transformed captives. Morgana falls for Ricciardo, while Alcina grows genuinely attached to Ruggiero. Melisso uses a magic ring to restore Ruggiero’s memory, and he prepares to escape. Bradamante and Ruggiero destroy the source of Alcina’s magic; her palace collapses, her spells end, and the captives return to human form, including Oberto’s father Astolfo.

Alessandro nell’Indie (Christoph Willibald Gluck)

Opera · 1744

A distinct musical setting of Metastasio’s libretto Alessandro nell’Indie by Christoph Willibald Gluck. A setting titled Poro, premiered in Turin on 26 December; the source says only the sinfonia, four arias, and a duet survive. The source does not provide a setting-specific plot synopsis; the libretto concerns Alexander’s campaign in India and the conflict involving King Porus, Cleofide, and their court.

Alexandre bis

Opera · 1964

In a Paris salon around 1900, Alexandre leaves home, allegedly for the station, while his American cousin arrives. His wife Armande falls for the cousin, to the dismay of Alexandre’s animated portrait and the maid Philomène. Armande dreams that the two Alexandres kill each other, that the goddess of marriage condemns her, and that Oscar courts her on roller skates. The next morning her husband returns without his beard and leaves for work. Oscar again invites Armande to a cycling lesson, and this time she accepts.

Ali Pascha von Janina oder Die Franzosen in Albanien

Opera · 1828

French naval captain Bernier is in love with Arianna, a woman from Corfu, who has been captured and taken to Ali Pasha’s harem. Ali orders her to forget Bernier. Bernier enters the palace under a pretext and pretends not to know Arianna, but they soon reveal their love. Ali overhears and chains Bernier. Robert and the French battalion break into the harem, free Bernier and Arianna, and return with them to France.

Ali-Baba

Opera · 1887

Poor wood-chopper Ali-Baba discovers a thieves’ cave that opens with “open sesame” and takes its treasure. His cousin Cassim overhears him, goes to the cave and forgets the magic words; the thieves capture him, but Zizi saves him with a disguise. The thieves’ leader Kandgiar identifies Ali-Baba and tries to attack his home. Morgiane foils the plan by marking neighbouring houses too, then detects the thieves hidden in Ali-Baba’s cellar and alerts the cadi. Kandgiar later arranges a dancer’s attempt on Ali-Baba’s life, but Morgiane saves him again. Cassim returns to his former life, Ali-Baba asks to marry Morgiane, and Zizi is forgiven.

Amadis de Gaule

Opera · 1779

Sorceress Arcabonne has fallen for a nameless knight who once saved her, but her brother Arcalaüs urges her to destroy Amadis, who killed their brother. Arcalaüs’s demons make Oriane jealous of Amadis. When Amadis attacks the fortress where he believes Oriane is held, demons capture him. Arcabonne recognizes him as her rescuer during the sacrificial rite and frees him and the other prisoners. Arcalaüs then deceives Oriane into believing Amadis is dead, but the fairy Urgande breaks the enchantment. Arcabonne kills herself when she understands Amadis will never love her, and Amadis frees the prisoners of the enchanted palace.

Andrea Chénier

Opera · 1896

At a ball before the French Revolution, poet Andrea Chénier denounces the suffering of the poor and attracts the affection of Maddalena, while servant Carlo Gérard leaves his aristocratic employers. During the Reign of Terror, Chénier and Maddalena reunite and fall in love. Gérard, now a revolutionary official, has Chénier arrested to gain Maddalena, but relents and admits he falsified the charges. The Tribunal condemns Chénier. Maddalena takes the place of another condemned prisoner, and she and Chénier go together to the guillotine.

Andromache

Opera · 1932

After the Trojan War, Andromache is held captive by Pyrrhus, who desires her. He reveals her son Skamander survived and offers her responsibility for his upbringing, but Andromache remains devoted to her dead husband Hector and resists Pyrrhus. Hermione seeks to become queen, while her cousin Orest arrives with Greek demands that she marry Pyrrhus and that Skamander be killed. When Pyrrhus offers Andromache the crown, Hermione asks Orest to kill her rivals. Pyrrhus and his warriors pledge to protect Skamander if Andromache accepts Pyrrhus; she closes by declaring Ilion defeated.

Angelo

Opera · 1876

In Padua in 1549, Tisbe loves Rodolfo, but he loves Catarina, who is secretly his lover. Tisbe recognizes Catarina’s crucifix as the one her mother gave years earlier to a Venetian noblewoman’s daughter and secretly helps Catarina and Rodolfo escape Angelo’s jealous control. Catarina takes a sleeping potion, allowing her to be carried to a sealed crypt. Rodolfo, thinking Tisbe poisoned her, stabs Tisbe; Catarina awakens, and Tisbe blesses the couple before she dies.

Aniara

Opera · 1959

The spacecraft Aniara, controlled by the computer Mima, leaves a poisoned Earth carrying emigrants toward Mars. During a midsummer celebration it is thrown off course and redirected toward Lyra, a journey expected to last longer than the lives of those aboard. After Earth is destroyed, Mima can no longer function. The commander tries to manage the passengers’ growing despair and moral deterioration. The voyage continues through its twentieth anniversary, and in the final night the blind poetess sings of death as the passengers and Mimaroben face the end.

Anna Bolena

Opera · 1830

At Windsor, Henry VIII plans to replace his wife, Anna Bolena, with Jane Seymour. Anna’s former love, Percy, returns from exile. Henry orders his courtier Hervey to spy on them. Smeaton, a page who loves Anna, secretly returns a locket with her portrait; when Percy draws his sword to kill himself after Anna rejects him, Smeaton rushes out, and Henry finds the locket and arrests them. Anna refuses Jane’s offer to admit guilt in exchange for her life. Henry’s council condemns Anna and her companions. In the Tower of London, Anna becomes delirious, imagining her wedding day and her childhood home. She is led away to execution as the court celebrates Henry and Jane’s wedding.

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