Opera fans, clear your Friday night. PBS’s Great Performances at the Met returns June 13 at 9 PM ET with a new production of Verdi’s Aida, featuring soprano Angel Blue in her Met role debut as the titular Ethiopian princess.
This isn’t just another night at the opera. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer’s staging, a visually driven take that uses projections and animation to bring ancient Egypt to life (or at least, a version of it). Blue leads a cast that includes Judit Kutasi, Piotr Beczała, Quinn Kelsey, Morris Robinson, and Harold Wilson, rounding out a lineup that’s as big as Verdi’s score itself.
Great Performances at the Met has long been a bridge between high art and accessibility, giving viewers a front-row seat to some of opera’s grandest productions. This Aida continues that tradition, bringing a classic to the small screen with a fresh visual approach that might even win over the opera-averse. Just be prepared to settle in: the performance clocks in at three hours.
Great Performances at the Met: Aida airs Friday, June 13 at 9 PM ET on PBS.