Toledo, OH – Toledo Opera will present Aida: Homelands on Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 6 p.m. at TolHouse, 1447 N. Summit St., Toledo, Ohio 43604, offering audiences an opportunity 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 distinctive 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 evening will feature traditional Azmari music, an Ethiopian buffet from Taste of Ethiopia in Detroit, and a presentation by historical musicologist Dr. Ryan Ebright, PhD. His presentation will explore Aida, Ethiopia’s role in the opera, and some of the historical and cultural context surrounding Verdi’s iconic work.
Special guest soprano Mariam 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 leading 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. Ms. 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.”
Stayce Fowler, COO & Sales Director of Pursuit Media Group shared: “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. 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.”
Angela Lucas, Co-Founder of TolHouse added: “I’m so thrilled and honored to welcome Toledo Opera and this incredible production to 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 last 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.
Kate French, Toledo Opera Board Trustee, shared on behalf of the Audience Development Committee: “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. 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.”
About Aida: Torn between love and duty, Aida stands at the center of a tempest of passion, loyalty, and impossible choices. Captive in ancient Egypt, the Ethiopian Princess must navigate her love for the heroic Radamès, her devotion to her homeland, and the schemes of the jealous Princess Amneris. Toledo Opera’s original production brings Verdi’s unforgettable arias, soaring duets, and breathtaking choruses to life, immersing audiences in a story of desire, sacrifice, and destiny. Returning to Toledo Opera for the first
time in over a decade, Aida is a monumental opera experience not to be missed. Aida stars soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams (company debut) as Aida, tenor Brendan Boyle (Toledo Opera’s Carmen, Tosca, and Ragtime) as Radamès, contralto Lauren Decker (Toledo Opera's Cavalleria Rusticana and Suor Angelica) as Princess Amneris, and baritone Nmon Ford (company debut) as Amonasro. Aida will be presented in Italian with English Captions.
Dr. Ryan Ebright, PhD is an award-winning historical musicologist specializing in American opera and music after 1945. His research has appeared in the Cambridge Opera Journal, American Music, and several books, and his work examines the intersections of music, politics, identity, technology, and institutions. An active public scholar, Ebright has written for The New York Times, Opera News, The New Yorker, and NewMusicBox, and has given talks and written program essays for organizations including Opera Philadelphia, Detroit Opera, Toledo Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Toledo Symphony. He is an Associate Professor of Musicology and Affiliated Faculty in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University, where he also serves as program coordinator for the DMA in Contemporary Music.
Mariam Battistelli is an Italian soprano born in Ethiopia who has performed internationally at leading opera houses and festivals. She was a member of the Vienna State Opera Ensemble, where she debuted roles including Musetta in La bohème, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Her career has also taken her to Teatro alla Scala, Staatsoper Hamburg, Teatro La Fenice, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, the Royal Opera House of Muscat, and the Glyndebourne Festival. Battistelli has been recognized in international vocal competitions and appeared in productions ranging from La bohème and L'elisir d'amore to Don Pasquale and Falstaff. She also stars as Euridice in the 2025 film The Opera! – Arias for an Eclipse, directed by Davide Livermore. Born in Ethiopia and established as an artist in Italy and internationally, Battistelli brings a personal perspective to the cultural and artistic questions explored through Aida: Homelands.
Toledo Opera will present Aida: Homelands at TolHouse on Sunday, October 11 at 6:00 p.m.. Aida: Homelands is generously supported in part by Nathaniel-Waldon Group LLC. For more information, please visit toledoopera.org. For media access, or additional information, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.
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