1871 Verdi Opera is the four-letter answer to the crossword puzzle, AIDA. AIDA is an opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi in 1871. It is based on a story set in ancient Egypt and tells the story of a love triangle between AIDA, an Ethiopian princess, Radames, an Egyptian military commander, and Amneris, the daughter of the King of Egypt. The opera has become one of the most popular works in the classical repertoire and is regularly performed around the world.