Opera Giuseppe Verdi "Nabucco" (Opera in Concert Performance) World famous Bolshoi Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1776) - Marvellous Main (Historic) Stage
Schedule for Giuseppe Verdi "Nabucco" (Opera in Concert Performance) 2022
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Opera company: Bolshoi Opera Orchestra: Bolshoi Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Nabucco is an Italian-language opera in four acts composed in 1841 by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The libretto is based on the biblical books of 2 Kings, Jeremiah, Lamentations and Daniel and the 1836 play by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu.
Nabucco is the opera that is considered to have permanently established Verdi's reputation as a composer. He commented that "this is the opera with which my artistic career really begins. And though I had many difficulties to fight against, it is certain that Nabucco was born under a lucky star."
The opera follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian king Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar II). The historical events are used as background for a romantic and political plot. The best-known number from the opera is the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves", "Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate" / "Fly, thought, on golden wings", a chorus that is regularly given an encore in many opera houses when performed today.
Synopsis
Act I
Nabucco, the king of Babylon, is at the gates of Jerusalem. High Priest
Zaccaria, to instill courage into the faithful Jews, leads in a prisoner,
Fenena, daughter of Nabucco and leaves her in the custody of Ismaele. Fenena
loves Ismaele, whom she rescued one day from Babylonian prison. Ismaele is about
to drag Fenena away through a secret door, when Abigaille bursts into the
temple, leading a band of Babylonians. Abigaille, who has also been in love with
Ismaele since she met him in Babylonia, hates Fenena. She might be disposed to
pardon the girl, she confides to Ismaele - who disdainfully refuses - if he will
renounce Fenena in her favour. In the meantime all Jews rush for shelter in the
temple, terrified by the relentless advance of Nabucco at the head of the
Assyrian and Babylonian armies. Abigaille, the king rides up to the temple.
Zaccaria confronts him and threatens divine wrath on his impiety, seizes Fenena
and raises his dagger. But Ismaele rapidly intervenes and gives Fenena back to
her father. Nabucco is once again master of the situation. Zaccaria and the
people curse Ismaele.
Act II
Abigaille has learnt from a document, which Nabucco had
kept hidden, that she is not the king’s elder daughter but a slave.
Nabucco, who is away from the capital, has appointed his legitimate daughter
Fenena to act as his regent. High Priest of Bel comes to inform Abigaille that
Fenena has set all the Jewish prisoners free. The time has come, he suggests, to
stage a coup. A false rumor has already been put about that Nabucco has been
killed in battle. Abigaille is exul-tant. She dreams of power and revenge upon
Fenena and Nabucco. Fenena goes to be converted to the Jewish religion. The
"miracle" is announced by Ismaele to the other Levites as they gather in the
hall. But they refuse to listen to the man whom they believe to be a traitor.
Zaccaria enters, accompanied by his sister Anna and by Fenena, and Ismaele
deserves forgiveness. Abdallo, loyal to the regent, enters, announcing the
king’s death and Abigaille’s intention to seize power. He urges Fenena to
escape. The girl decides instead to join the rebels to defend the legitimate
throne. But she is arrested by Abigaille, surrounded by the High Priest and a
crowd of Babylonians. As Abigaille orders Fenena to relinquish the crown,
Nabucco appears. Cursing Bel, who has made traitors of the Babylonians, and
mocking the defenceless god of the Jews, he orders everyone to wor-ship him as
the sole divine authority. Zaccaria threatens Nabucco with the punishment of
heaven. The king orders the priest to be arrested and put to death with his
people. Fenena wishes to die with her kin. Nabucco forces her to kneel before
him and proclaims "I am no longer king, I am god". A flash of lightning strikes
Nabucco on the head. Abigaille scornfully picks up Nabucco’s crown.
Act III
The High Priest of Bel presents Abigaille the death sentence for the Jewish
prisoners and Fenena. Nabucco enters, looking ill and dishevelled. Abigaille
orders him to affix his royal seal to the parchment. He does, but at once
regrets his action, imagining Fenena’s fate. Abigaille is irremovable, saying to
Nabucco, that if Fenena dies, he still has another daughter. Nabucco replies
angrily that she is only a slave girl. But Abigaille, drawing from her bosom the
doc-ument certifying to her servile birth, tears it up before the king’s eyes.
He calls his guards but, as Abigaille triumphantly tells him, they are no longer
at his command: they have orders only to escort him as a pris-oner to his rooms.
The Jews in captivity lament their unhappy fate. Zaccaria reproaches them for
their resignation and predicts the Babylonian empire will be destroyed.
Act IV
Nabucco is a prisoner. He sees Fenena being led to execution. In despair at
his powerlessness to act, he implores forgiveness from the god of the Jews.
Abdallo and his faithful guards enter. Proudly drawing himself up, Nabucco
orders Abdallo, who joyfully obeys, to follow him: as king of Assyria he will
rout the traitors, save Fenena and free the Jewish people from captivity.
Fenena and the Jews condemned to the block arrive. As Zaccaria blesses the
girl who is about to win the palm of martyr-dom, Nabucco bursts in, his sword
drawn. The idol of Bel crashes to the ground. All those present fall to their
knees in wonder and praise the god of Israel. Abigaille, who is remorseful of
her offences, asks Fenena to forgive the evil she has done her. Before dying,
she begs Nabucco to marry the girl to Ismaele. Zaccaria predicts for Nabucco as
the reward for his faith in Jehovah who will protect him, dominion over all the
kingdoms of the world.
Schedule for Giuseppe Verdi "Nabucco" (Opera in Concert Performance) 2022
|