The Mikhailovsky Theatre has turned to Giuseppe Verdi's opera for the first time, set in ancient Egypt. "Aida" was commissioned by the Ottoman viceroy of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, and was intended to coincide with the opening of the Cairo Opera House. However, the opera was delayed due to the Franco-Prussian War, which hindered the timely delivery of costumes and scenery. As a result, "Rigoletto" was performed at the opening, and the premiere of "Aida" took place two years later, in 1871. Its success was phenomenal and marked the culmination of the "Egyptian Era," a period from 1822 to 1922 when the ancient civilization gained widespread recognition, and its images spawned a distinct stylistic direction in the art, fashion, and design of those years. In terms of its creation, "Aida" falls right between two significant global events-the deciphering of the inscriptions on the Rosetta Stone by Jean-François Champollion and the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. The script for the opera was written by the famous French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. Based on his drawings, the sets and costumes for the premiere were prepared. The opera's libretto was also worked on by Camille du Locle, poet Antonio Ghislanzoni, and Verdi himself, who meticulously developed the psychological profiles of the characters. The music of the opera is incredibly rich in shades of feeling and emotion. In love and jealousy, longing for homeland and striving for victory, all are equal: slaves, warriors, and kings.