Double bill of operas from the 1980s starring tenor Luciano Pavarotti. In 'Aida' Pavarotti performs the role of Radamès alongside Maria Chiara and Ghena Dimitrova. Lorin Maazel conducts the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus. In 'La Bohème' Pavarotti stars as Rodolfo with Tiziano Severini leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The rest of the cast includes Mirella Freni, Sandra Pacetti and Gino Quilico.

Egypt and Ethiopia are at war. Radames is appointed commander of the Egyptian forces by the King, whose daughter, Amneris, loves Radames. It is in fact Amneris' Ethiopian slave Aida whom Radames loves. Ramades wins the war against the Ethiopians, capturing Aida's father Amonasro in the process. On his return to Egypt he faces a choice between marrying Amneris or betraying his country through his love for Aida. This new production was a triumphant success when it opened at La Scala in December 1985 and Luciano Pavarotti's long awaited performance as Radames, his first in Italy, was greeted with rapturous applause.