Stephanie Blythe's role debut as Amneris in "Aida" was long in coming, but well worth the wait.

This popular operatic artist had been scheduled to sing the grandest of Verdi's mezzo-soprano roles in the Pittsburgh Opera production that opened at the Benedum March 29.

Shortly after the dress rehearsal, Blythe was taken ill with an infection that brought on laryngitis and forced her to cancel the opening performance on March 29. Marianne Cornetti was flown in as a last-minute replacement, but had to sing in Amsterdam immediately after. With Blythe still ill, a third Amneris, Jane Dutton, stepped in on Tuesday and Friday.

Meanwhile, the Radames -- Vladimir Kuzmenko -- fell ill during Tuesday's performance, and when his standby, Eduardo Villa, did not arrive because of plane delays, Antony Walker sang the tenor's lines while conducting from the pit. Stephen O'Mara sang Radames Friday and Sunday.

It was only in the fourth and last performance yesterday that Blythe actually appeared.

Her huge voice commanded the ear just as her larger-than-life presence commanded the stage. Her low range had a trombone-like resonance, and when she nailed a high note, she held it long enough to let it ring in the memory.

Blythe also captured the psychology of a vengeful princess who relents after having condemned the man she loves.

No doubt she will smooth out rough spots and add subtleties as time goes on. She has the makings of an Amneris to go down in operatic history.

O'Mara's voice is light for Radames, and his technique frankly inadequate for the famous aria, "Celeste Aida." Still, he made a valiant effort that rescued the production in this trying time.

Aida herself was appealingly portrayed by Hungarian soprano Eszter Sumegi, who provided a solid foundation for her all-too-numerous colleagues to lean on.