From TOLEDO OPERA
Toledo Opera will present Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m., at the Valentine Theatre, 400 North Superior, Toledo. Presented for the first time in over a decade, this new production features a cast of returning favorites and world-class artists. Toledo Opera will also host a free Pre-Opera Talk one hour before each show in the Grand Lobby of the Valentine Theatre. Professor of Musicology at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Eftychia Papanikolaou, Ph.D., will provide historical context and insight and will be available to take questions after the talk.
“Aida” tells the story of a love caught between loyalty, duty, and war. Aida, an Ethiopian princess captured and forced into slavery in Egypt, secretly loves Radamès, the Egyptian military commander chosen to lead his country into battle against her homeland. Their love becomes more complicated when Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian king, also loves Radamès; and Aida must choose between her love for him and her devotion to her country. Set against a backdrop of military conflict, political power, and religious ceremony, Verdi’s work explores the consequences of a love divided by duty and allegiance.
Premiered at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo in 1871, “Aida” was commissioned to celebrate the opening of a new opera house, although its premiere was delayed by the Franco-Prussian War. The opera quickly became one of Verdi’s most celebrated works, admired for its melodies, score, choruses, and portrayal of its central characters. While often associated with spectacular staging and grand processions, “Aida” balances its epic scale with personal moments of love, jealousy, sacrifice, and loss. The opera remains one of the most frequently performed works in the operatic repertoire and is particularly renowned for its ensembles, choruses, and the triumphal scene.
“Aida” also holds a special place in Toledo Opera’s history – it was the company’s inaugural production when Toledo Opera opened in 1959. Presented at the Paramount Theatre, the production marked the beginning of Toledo Opera’s more than six decades of bringing opera to audiences throughout the Toledo region.
“Aida” will be brought to life by conductor Adam Turner, who returns for his fourth season with Toledo Opera after conducting the company’s 2025 production of “Carmen.” Stage director Linda Brovsky and choreographer Matthew Steffens join Turner to bring Verdi’s work to the stage. “Aida” will star Mary Elizabeth Williams as Aida, Brendan Boyle (“Carmen,” “Tosca,” and “Ragtime” with Toledo Opera) as Radamès, Lauren Decker (“Suor Angelica” and “Cavalleria Rusticana” with Toledo Opera) as Amneris, and Nmon Ford as Amonasro. “Aida” will be presented in Italian with English captions.
American soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams makes her Toledo Opera debut in the title role of Aida. An internationally acclaimed artist, Williams has performed leading roles at some of the world’s renowned opera houses, including Teatro alla Scala, l’Opéra National de Paris, Canadian Opera Company, Seattle Opera, Welsh National Opera, and La Monnaie. She has become known for her portrayals of Italian heroines, including Aida, Tosca, and Abigaille in “Nabucco,” while her expanding repertoire also encompasses contemporary works. In addition to her work on stage, Williams is a published writer, teacher and lecturer, and an advocate for greater access to opera. She earned her MBA in Arts Innovation from the Global Leaders Institute in 2026 and currently serves as Opera Baltimore’s director of artistic access.
Tenor Brendan Boyle returns to Toledo Opera as Radamès in “Aida,” continuing a strong relationship with the company that began as a Toledo Opera resident artist in 2022-23. Since then, he has returned to Toledo to perform Father in “Ragtime,” Mario Cavaradossi in “Tosca,” and Don José in “Carmen.” Hailing from Kansas, Boyle has built a diverse repertoire ranging from romantic leading roles such as Rodolfo in Puccini’s “La Bohème” to dramatic roles, earning recognition for his powerful voice and compelling characterizations.
Mezzo-soprano Lauren Decker and Panamanian-American baritone Nmon Ford join the cast as Amneris and Amonasro in “Aida.” Decker, known for her contralto and “amber low notes,” has performed with Deutsche Oper Berlin and Lyric Opera of Chicago and will make her Metropolitan Opera debut this season. Ford has build an international career in dramatic repertoire, with appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Detroit Opera, and Hamburg State Opera. His repertoire includes roles such as Jochanaan in “Salome,” Iago in “Otello,” Escamillo in “Carmen,” and the title role of “Don Giovanni.”
Also joining the cast are bass-baritone and Toledo Opera resident artist Timothy Krueger as the King of Egypt; tenor and Toledo Opera resident artist Jeremy Do as the Messenger; and soprano and Toledo Opera resident artist Jenna Grissom as the High Priestess.
The “Aida” ensemble features a group of professional dancers: Nicholas Sipes, Ryan Lindeman, Jasmine Ward, Maurice Ivy, Mike Baerga, and Holly Wilder. Their collective credits include performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Pennsylvania Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, and Seán Curran Company, as well as Broadway productions including “Wicked,” “The Cher Show,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” “King Kong,” and “Miss Saigon.” The dancers have also appeared on national tours, in film and television, and with opera companies including LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, and Washington National Opera, bringing dance, musical theatre, and operatic experience to Toledo Opera’s production.
The production will also feature the Toledo Opera chorus, bringing its sound and connection to the company to the stage. Composed of professional and community singers from across the region, the chorus has been an integral part of Toledo Opera productions for more than six decades and will join the cast and orchestra in bringing Verdi’s score to life.
Toledo Opera will also offer a series of companion events surrounding “Aida,” including Get Into the Spirit of Opera, Aida: Homelands, Aida All Access, and Sunday Fun-Day Brunch. The programs will explore the opera’s music, history, culture, and themes through community gatherings, educational conversations, live performances, and culinary experiences.
Toledo Opera Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma shared, “At Toledo Opera, we have been fortunate in past seasons to bring outstanding talent to our city. But, with great pride, I must say that this cast exceeds our wildest dreams. The principal artists assembled for this production of Verdi’s ‘Aida’ would be the envy of any opera company, great or small. These singers, combined with our talented resident artists, our impressive chorus, beautiful sets, expressive choreography, and of course, the vibrant, passionate playing of the Toledo Symphony, will remind everyone why ‘Aida’ is considered the grandest of all grand operas.”
Toledo Opera will perform “Aida” at the Valentine Theatre on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. To learn more about the “Aida” cast, production team, companion programming, and to buy tickets, visit toledoopera.org.
