Passion, duty, and family collide against the backdrop of war in Verdi’s grand opera. As Ancient Egypt and Ethiopia clash, the Egyptian general Radamès and the enslaved Ethiopian Aida—secretly a princess—embark on a forbidden romance that could change the fate of their nations. Aida’s father, Amonasro, and the Egyptian princess Amneris—who also loves Radamès—maneuver to shape destinies and test loyalties. Powerful arias, thrilling choruses, and spectacular sets and costumes bring this tale of devotion, betrayal, and sacrifice vividly to life.
Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents this brand-new production of Verdi’s Aida, brought to life by local artists and craftspeople in Kansas City.
Meet the Artists
Michelle Bradley
Aida
Sarah Saturnino
Amneris
Yonghoon Lee*
Radamès
Eric Greene
Amonasro
Ron Dukes*
Ramphis
Bethany Jelinek^
High Priestess
Adam Lau
King of Egypt
David Pelino^
A Messenger
Gerard Schwarz
Conductor
Keturah Stickann
Director
Nora Winsler
Assistant Director
Steven C. Kemp
Set Designer
Driscoll Otto
Lighting Designer
David Zimmerman
Wig and Makeup Designer
Soprano
Lauren Auge@
Judy Bliss
Payton Boldt@
LaTeesha M. Jackson
Jie Li*
Virenia Lind
Kathryn Long
Kristin Newbegin
Mary Lou Pagano
Rachel Priest
Yiyu Tang*
Kelli Van Meter@
Mezzo-Soprano
Rebecca Allen
Sarah Baxter
Ashley Beth Burnett
Prenicia Clifton
Jennifer Forman
Elaine Fox@
Lisa Marie Gerstenkorn*
Lindsay James
Anna Patterson
Julia Scozzafava@
Emma WitbolsFeugen
Kaitlyn York
Tenor
Tytus Abrahamson@
Nico Caruso
Zachary K. Devin@
Drew Duncan
Andrew Flanagin
Trent Green
David Helder
Jonathon Moldovan
Jedd C. Schneider
Kevin Thomas Smith
Brian Sussman
Shuqi Zhang*
Bass-Baritone
Matt Black
Phil Eatherton
Colt Hoselton
Kailun Hu*
Samuel Leopold*
Josh Markley
Spencer McIntire
Terence Murphy@
Evan J. Nelson
Brian Keith Smith Jr.
Nathan Whitson
Ron Witzke
*Lyric Opera Debut
^Lyric Opera Resident Artist
@Former Lyric Opera Resident/Apprentice Artist
Listen to the Music
Sponsors
The 2026–2027 season is sponsored by the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation; the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts; the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Foundation; and R.C. Kemper Charitable Trust and Foundation, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee; with public support from Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Aida is supported, in part, by the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, the Lyric Opera Circle, Ann Baum, G. Kenneth & Ann Baum Philanthropic Fund, the Dr. Gary Grunewald Charitable Fund, Edward P. Milbank, Northern Trust Company, Kent Sunderland & Hannah Snider, and a consortium of individual donors.
