Do you remember those beautiful moments from Verdi’s Aida? "Celeste Aida", "O Patria mia" and the majesty of the Triumphal March! Did it cause a shiver up your spine when Amonasro sang: "While today we are laid low by fate: tomorrow, it may be you."

Ethiopian Princess Aida is torn between duty and love, warrior Radames between battle, country and passion, and Egyptian Princess Amneris learns the terrible price of her jealousy and desire. In the end Amneris for all her power is only able to pray for the doomed lovers, begging the goddess Isis to open the gates of heaven to them. (pass the tissues please.... the whole box)

People will sometimes say that opera is old fashioned and does not relate to our modern lives. But in our tumultuous world, sometimes I feel the events of Aida are probably unfolding in one way or another nearly every day.

You can click here to read my blog entry that goes into great detail of why I selected each important bead and charm on the Aida Opera bracelet.

Each bead and charm of the Aida Opera Bracelet represents a character or moment from Verdi's work. Some of the most important beads and charms are described below and you can see all of the symbolic descriptions on the spiral chart photo above or to the left. Also, a story chart explaining the symbolism of the beads and charms accompanies every bracelet. Click here to see the chart.

• A pyramid charm with deep blue beads sets the scene of ancient Memphis and the Nile. A glittering bead denotes Radames the golden warrior of Egypt; an iridescent heart his pure love for Aida (Celeste Aida).
• Aida is represented by an opalescent pink crystal bead symbolizing the riches of Ethiopia and a pink bicone crystal is her rival Amneris. This denotes their equal stature as princesses. A swirling heart symbolizes Aida’s conflicting emotions, while a green heart is Amneris’s jealousy.
• Golden beads represent Egypt’s spoils of war, won by Radames (Triumphal March). An elephant charm recalls the famous productions of yore which included live elephants on stage.
• A pharaoh charm with a gold bead is the King of Egypt. A crackled gold disc symbolizes the shattered hopes of Radames. He had hoped to marry Aida, but the King instead offers him Amneris’s hand in marriage as a reward for his victory.
• Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, is a patterned golden bead indicating his position as a King in disguise/hiding.
• Blue beads and an opalescent glass bead with an ankh charm represent the nighttime vigil of Amneris as she prays in preparation for her wedding.
• A turquoise colored floral bead represents the beauty of Ethiopia which Aida will never see again. (O patria mia). Her sadness is blue teardrop.
• A gold bead which evokes a sense of being pulled in two represents Aida’s divided heart between duty/her father and her love for Radames.
• A swirling bead indicates the military plans Radamaes inadvertently reveals. A black disc is his own acceptance that he is a traitor.
• Red hearts symbolize the love of Aida and Radames
• A charm of Isis signifies Amneris's final grief and guilt ridden prayer that heaven be opened for the two doomed lovers.