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Baritone

Plácido Domingo

Nabucco

Dimitri Platanias

Bass

John Relyea

Zachary

Soprano

Liudmyla Monastyrska

Abigail

Tatiana Melnychenko

Tenor

Leonardo Capalbo

Ishmael

Jean-François Borras

Jamie Barton

Fenena

Vlada Borovko

Anna

Samuel Sakker

Abdallo

David Shipley

The High Priest of Ba'al

Conductor

Maurizio Benini

Renato Balsadonna

Stage director

Daniele Abbado

Set designer

Alison Chitty

Royal Opera House

Italian

London

United Kingdom

English

Approved

Nabucco trailer (The Royal Opera)

John Relyea, Leonardo Capalbo and Jamie Barton on why Verdi's great opera Nabucco is as powerful today as it was when it was written in 1841. Find out more at http://www.roh.org.uk/nabucco


Following the spectacular failure of his second opera, Un giorno di regno, Giuseppe Verdi vowed never to compose another. But he was lured back to the theatre by Bartolomeo Merelli, the impresario of La Scala, Milan, with the commission for Nabucco. The resulting opera was a triumph – first performed in 1842, it was revived the same year with a run of 57 shows. As Verdi wrote: ‘with this opera, it can truly be said that my artistic career began.’

Daniele Abbado’s production is set in the second half of the 20th century and explores the reality of conflict, where friend and enemy may become indistinguishable. An enormous chorus lends weight to epic numbers such as ‘Immenso Jehova’ – the Hebrew Slaves’ triumphant hymn of thanksgiving – and their song of exile, ‘Va, pensiero’, widely considered to be Italy’s unofficial national anthem. There are wonderful bass and baritone roles in the figures of Nabucco, the Babylonian King (based on the biblical King Nebuchadnezzar) and Zaccaria, the Hebrew prophet – while in Abigaille, Verdi created a memorable anti-heroine, at once terrifying and pitiable. Throughout, the score blends rhythmic vitality and powerful drama, and is on a scale to do justice to the opera’s epic themes.

Strength and unity: Why Verdi's Nabucco remains relevant today (The Royal Opera)

Nabucco by Verdi, From (2016/2016), Directed by Daniele Abbado,, Conductor Maurizio Benini, Renato Balsadonna, Royal Opera House, London, United Kingdom

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