TOLEDO – Lauren Decker has been singing professionally for a decade, including four years as a young artist at Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center and six years as a freelance artist.
As far as Decker is concerned, she hit the lottery when she secured the role of Amneris, one of the central figures in the Toledo Opera’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, to be presented on Friday and Sunday at the Valentine Theatre.
“Amneris is the biggest role I’ve taken on in my career,” said Decker, 36, a mezzo-soprano and a native of Milwaukee. “I’ve had roughly a year to prepare for Amneris. This prep started with reading the libretto and working through the translation of the Italian.
“I worked with voice teachers on the production of the singing and vocal coaches on the dramatic intention and style of the music. I listened and watched countless hours of live recordings. Then, I used all of this information to find who I believe Amneris is – how she thinks, feels, moves …”
Aida has a long and colorful opera history. It was first performed in 1871 and has been performed thousands of times around the world since 1886.
Aida also holds a special place in Toledo Opera’s history. It was the company’s inaugural production when Toledo Opera opened in 1959. Presented at the Paramount Theatre, the production marked the beginning of Toledo Opera’s more than six decades of bringing opera to audiences throughout the Toledo region.
Aida tells the storyof a love caught between loyalty, duty and war. Aida, an Ethiopian princess captured and forced into slavery in Egypt, secretly loves Radamès, the Egyptian military commander chosen to lead his country into battle against her homeland.
Their love becomes even more complicated when Amneris, the daughter of the Egyptian king, also loves Radamès, and Aida must choose between her love for him and her devotion to her country.
“Amneris is a central figure in this complex story, and the opportunity to dig deeper dramatically and musically has been an incredibly gratifying artistic experience,” Decker said. “I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and hope it resonates with Toledo audiences.
“Amneris’s plight divides her between love, friendship and country. As the war rages on, she faces an incredibly difficult decision. Is her responsibility as the princess of Egypt more important than her moral obligation to the people she cares deeply for?”
Celebrated American soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams makes her Toledo Opera debut in the title role of Aida. An internationally acclaimed artist, Williams has performed leading roles at some of the world’s most renowned opera houses.
Tenor Brendan Boyle returns to Toledo Opera as Radamès, continuing a strong relationship with the company that began as a Toledo Opera Resident Artist in 2022-23.
Included in the cast are bass-baritone and Toledo Opera Resident Artist Timothy Krueger as the King of Egypt, tenor and Toledo Opera Resident Artist Jeremy Do as the Messenger, and soprano and Toledo Opera Resident Artist Jenna Grissom as the High Priestess.
Aida will be brought to life by conductor Adam Turner, who returns for his fourth season with Toledo Opera after conducting the company’s 2025 production of Carmen. Stage director Linda Brovsky and choreographer Matthew Steffens join Turner to bring Verdi’s monumental work to the stage.
Bylsma calls Toledo Opera staff passionate, committed
Kevin Bylsma has been the artistic director for the Toledo Opera since June 2024. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native said chorus rehearsals for Aida began in late July, and the principal artists arrived three weeks ago.
Bylsma supervises the selection and casting of all of Toledo Opera’s offerings.
“We began rehearsals for Aida on Sept. 28,” he said. “This has been an action-packed few weeks. I am so proud of our company. We are one of the smallest regional opera companies in the country, but we produce operas that, to quote a board member, ‘always punches above its weight class.’
“Our staff is so talented, passionate and committed,” Bylsma added. “They make it a joy to work at Toledo Opera. My job entails all the music preparation for our main stage operas, including the opera chorus. I oversee our Resident Artist program, which employs five young musicians to bring opera into the community.”
Bylsma called Aida “the grandest of all grand operas.”
“The Triumphal Scene is one of the greatest spectacles in all opera,” he said. “The music is stunning and the story is so moving. The is one of the most talented casts ever to sing at Toledo Opera. They would be the envy of any company in the country, and we are so fortunate that they are with us in Toledo.”
Decker happy to be back in Toledo
Decker said she is the first person in her family to go into entertainment.
“I always knew I wanted to pursue an artistic career,” she said. “After my high school choir teacher suggested I pursue classical music, I decided to go to school for vocal performance.
“I feel so incredibly grateful that everyone in my life supports my dreams. Many have traveled far and wide to see me perform, and many more have uplifted me on the many bumps in the road that creative careers present. My love of this art form continues to deepen with each rehearsal and performance.”
She added that, as a contralto, many of her roles are secondary characters. Now, she has a golden opportunity as one of Aida’s main figures.
“Aida is one of the greatest operas ever written,” Decker said. “The music, the story and the characters are all incredibly beautiful and complex. It has been an absolute joy working with this cast, chorus, crew and orchestra. Everyone brings their best every day and that has made this such a rich and beautiful experience for us all.
“I am so proud of what we’ve created and can’t wait to share it with Toledo audiences.”
Toledo Opera will perform Aida at the Valentine Theatre, located at 400 N. Superior St., on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.
Toledo Opera will also host a free Pre-Opera Talk one hour before each show in the Grand Lobby of the Valentine Theatre. Professor of Musicology at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Eftychia Papanikolaou, Ph.D., will provide historical context and insight and will be available to take questions after the talk.
