This summer Aleksandra Kurzak added yet another role to her expanding spinto repertoire when she sang her first Aïda at the Verona Arena alongside her husband Roberto Alagna as Radames. Today’s Grand Tier Grab Bag features Kurzak’s duet with her nemesis Amneris, portrayed by Polish mezzo soprano Agnieszka Rehlis who is currently sharing the same role with Raehann Bryce-Davis in the Washington National Opera’s Aida.

Late last year Kurzak and Alagna performed Giordano’s Fedora together at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, while the soprano takes her first stab at the title role in Turandot this coming March at the Florida Grand Opera, before she returns to the Met as Mimi, her fifth Puccini role in four years with the company. Kurzak will travel to Egypt twice more this fall, this coming Saturday and Tuesday, at the Paris Opera.