From TOLEDO OPERA
Toledo Opera will present “Aida: Homelands” on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. at TolHouse, 1447 N. Summit St., Toledo. This is an opportunity for audiences to explore the music, culture, food, and history connected to Ethiopia and the story at the heart of Verdi’s “Aida.” The event is presented by Toledo Opera’s Audience Development Committee and sponsored by Nathaniel-Waldon Group LLC.
Tickets are $75 and include the evening’s programming and an Ethiopian buffet from Taste of Ethiopia in Detroit. The event will take place throughout the spaces of TolHouse in downtown Toledo.
At the center of “Aida” is an Ethiopian princess captured and enslaved in Egypt, caught between her love for Radamès and her devotion to her homeland. “Aida: Homelands” offers an opportunity to explore that dimension of the opera before Toledo Opera’s production opens, examining the cultural and historical context surrounding “Aida” and the Ethiopia represented in Verdi’s work.
The event will feature traditional Azmari music, an Ethiopian buffet, and a presentation by historical musicologist Ryan Enbright, Ph.D. His presentation will explore “Aida,” Ethiopia’s role in the opera, and some of the historical and cultural context surrounding the opera.
Special guest, soprano Maiam Battistelli, who was born in Ethiopia and raised in Italy, will also speak with guests about her own story and her experiences as an artist whose personal history connects her to the cultures explored through the evening. Battistelli has performed at opera houses and festivals throughout Europe and internationally, including Teatro alla Scala, the Vienna State Opera, Staatsoper Hamburg, Teatro La Fenice, the Royal Opera House of Muscat, and the Glyndebourne Festival. Battistelli’s attendance is made possible in part by Pursuit Media Group.
“Extending a welcoming hand to international advocate and artist, Mariam Battistelli, is as vital to the mission of Toledo Opera as producing world-class operatic performances,” said Toledo Opera Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma. “Opera is a collaborative art, requiring a community of artists to produce the performances one sees on stage. With this wonderful ‘Aida: Homelands’ event, and with the participation of all our guest speakers and artists, Toledo Opera celebrates not only our local community, but the universal ties that bind all opera lovers together, providing a feeling of welcome and belonging.”
“Mariam Battistelli is an Ethiopian-born, Italian opera singer and international performing artist whose work extends beyond the stage through her commitment to humanitarian causes,” said Stayce Fowler, COO and sales director of Pursuit Media Group. “As a UNICEF ambassador, Mariam uses her international platform and voice to support UNICEF’s mission to advocate for the rights and well-being of children around the world. Pursuit Media Group is honored to welcome Mariam to Toledo and celebrate the intersection of artistry, culture, and purpose that her visit represents.”
“I’m so thrilled and honored to welcome Toledo Opera and this incredible production to TolHouse,” said Angela Lucas, co-founder of TolHouse. “Getting to experience ‘Aida’ through Ethiopian music, food, and history is the kind of evening that makes this city special.”
Following the success of the 2025-26 season’s “Top Shelf,” “Aida: Homelands” continues Toledo Opera’s efforts to create opportunities for audiences to engage with opera beyond the traditional performance setting. Created by the Audience Development Committee, the event is designed for both longtime opera audiences and those encountering “Aida” for the first time.
“With ‘Aida: Homelands,’ we wanted to create an evening that invites people to experience the world surrounding the opera in a deeper and more personal way,” said Kate French, Toledo Opera board trustee, on behalf of the Audience Development Committee. “By celebrating ‘Aida’s Ethiopian heritage through its music, culture, food, and history, we hope guests come away not only with a richer understanding of the story they’ll see on stage, but with a sense of connection, curiosity, and welcome. That kind of meaningful experience is at the heart of what our Audience Development Committee hopes to create.”
For more information, visit toledoopera.org.
