Verdi received a request in November of 1869 from the Viceroy of Egypt to compose a commemorative hymn for the opening of the Suez Canal. Verdi refused the request on the grounds that he was not accustomed to writing such ceremonial music. The Viceroy then perusaded French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, who wrote a scenario set in ancient Egypt drawn partially from Metastasio's 1756 libretto for "Nitteti," to visit Paris in order to introduce him to the theatre producer Camille Du Locle, with the goal of mounting a new opera based upon Mariette's scenario with music from either Verdi, Gounod...