Nabucco Four-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Libertro Temistocle Solera

On the Biblical History and Plays of Auguste-Anise Bourgeois and Francis Cornu from 1836

Conductor-director Naiden TODOROV

Directed by Pavel GERDZHIKOV

Artist CHAVDAR CHOMAKOV

Choir Conductor NEVENA MIHAYLOVA

Concertmaster YORDAN KOVACHEV

Assistant Director DARINA GLAVANAKOVA-BAKARZHDIEVA

Prompter DORA FURTUNOVA

Subtitles SREBRINA SLAVOVA

History of the work

After the failure of his second opera, King of a Day (1840), Verdi was quite hesitant and did not write music for a long time. A chance meeting with Bartolomeo Merelli, impresario of the famous Milan "Scala" gives impetus to the young composer to create his third opera - "Nabucco" or "Nebuchadnezzar". The libretto by Themistocles Soler is based on a biblical story.

Despite some of its shortcomings, Nabucco managed to bring Verdi gratitude and popularity, dispelling any doubts about his talent. The composer himself claims: "My artistic career began with Nabucco." Nabucco also determines many new moments in the development of Italian opera: hitherto unknown drama and dynamics; clarity and truthfulness of the dramatic idea; sincerity and sincerity.

The opera made its debut at La Scala in Milan on March 9, 1842. The undisputed triumph of the work marked the beginning of a long tour of many Italian and European theaters. According to critics, "Nabucco" is closely linked to Verdi's passionate personality, and the success of the opera is largely due to the spectacular shaking power of "Va` Pensiero", one of the world's most popular tunes, singing the nostalgia of slaves at home and freedom. The Italians in the 19th century, still unformed as a nation and under the domination of Austria and Spain, adopted this melody as their national song, a song of people longing to see their land free from enemies and reunited.

 

Actors

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon

Abigail, illegitimate daughter of Nabucco

Ishmael, nephew of the king of Jerusalem

Zechariah, high priest of the Jews

Fenena, daughter of Nabucco

Abdalo, chief of guard

Anna, Zechariah's sister

The action takes place in Jerusalem and Babylon in 586 BC.

 

Contents:

Action One: Jerusalem

Scene 1 - In the Temple of Jerusalem

Frightened people flock to Solomon's temple. The Babylonian army, led by Nabucco, is advancing rapidly and will take over Jerusalem at any moment. They all look helplessly to Jehovah God and rely on him alone for salvation. Amidst the general turmoil and anticipation of the attack, only one man is looking for a possible way out - the high priest Zechariah. He brought with him to the temple Fenena, the little daughter of Nabucco, as an unexpected but infinitely valuable pledge at this very difficult time for the Jews. The daughter of the king of Babylon escaped from her father's camp. Surrendering to the Jews, she aims only to warn her beloved Ishmael of his impending death. The two young men have long loved each other since Ishmael, the nephew of the king of Judah, was a messenger to Babylon. Zacharias relies on their love, and especially on the fact that none other than Nabucco's daughter, the royal heiress, is a hostage. Perhaps this will be the way to achieve a truce between the two peoples, says Zechariah. The high priest seeks to inspire courage and bravery in his countrymen by leading them to the city to meet the moisture with a fight, and entrusts Fenena to Ishmael to protect her. Now is the time for Ishmael and his beloved to escape the temple and escape, but Abigail, Fenena's older sister, is already in front of them with a double victory - in addition to conquering the temple, she has revealed their love. There is only one thing that can appease her - Ishmael to renounce his beloved. Otherwise, both he and Fenena are doomed. A crowd invaded the temple, pursued by the conquerors. The Babylonian armies, led by Nabucco, desecrated the sanctuary. In revenge, Zacharias begins to stab Fenena with his knife. Ishmael, however, hinders him. His compatriots instantly cursed him, declaring him a traitor. Nabucco decides to destroy the temple and enslave the Jews.

 

 

Second act - The infidel

Scene 1 - The Palace of Babylon

Abigail's rage flares up even more. She accidentally learned the terrible truth that she was the daughter of Nabucco, but from his slave. The fact that she is doubly robbed - without the right to inherit the throne and without the love of Ishmael - makes her thirst for revenge unquenchable. Abigail longs to seize the crown of Fenena, temporarily placed on the throne due to the absence of Nabucco. At this opportune hour the High Priest arrives at her. He begged Abigail to seize the throne and prevent the liberation of the Jews from slavery. The first steps have already been taken - all priests spread the slander that Nabucco was killed. Abigail accepted the offer to ascend the Babylonian throne by force.

 

Scene 2 - Hall in the Palace of Babylon

The leftists and Zechariah secretly gather for prayer and counsel. Shortly afterwards, Ishmael begged the priests for mercy, but in vain. To them, his words are the words of a traitor. But Anna, the daughter of Zechariah, reveals to them that Ishmael saved a Jew from death - Fenena accepted their faith. The news pours in one after another. Abdalo informs Fenena that Nabucco is white, and the priests ascend the throne of Abigail, who condemns her sister and all the Jews to death. Fenena gathered courage and decided to defend the crown with the help of the Jews. Nabucco returns victorious. He threatened to kill the traitorous priests and Abigail, proclaiming himself "god of the earth"; suddenly, however, he suddenly loses his mind.

 

Third action: The prediction

Scene 1 - The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Abigail is obsessed with power. The high priest insisted that she immediately sign the death sentence for the Jews and Fenena to avoid a possible revolt. The power-loving woman deftly misleads Nabucco and he personally signs the death sentences. Only a moment later, the idea that Fenena would perish along with the Jews vaguely flashed through his darkened mind. Late. Neither his pleas for mercy nor his protests succeeded in touching Abigail, who was intoxicated by the power to reign.

 

Scene 2 - The banks of the Euphrates River

The enslaved Jews are mentally transported to their homeland. Zacharias is with them. Disgust, rage and a thirst for revenge are hidden in his prophetic words: "It will not be long before the kingdom of the enslaver collapses - freedom is coming!"

 

Act Four: The Destroyed Idol

Scene 1 - The Palace of Babylon

Nightmares do not give Nabucco peace. He prays to Jehovah God for help. Gradually his thoughts became clearer. He is terrified - they will kill Fenena! You have to save her, but how? Abdalo and some of the soldiers come to him in time. Together with them, Nabucco sets out to catch up with the priests and the dead.

 

Scene 2 - The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Zechariah, Fenena, and the other Jews are separated from their deaths. The sudden appearance of Nabucco and his warriors saves them. Nabucco ordered the overthrow of the Babylonian idol and released the captives. Abigail appears. She swallowed poison; repentant and begging everyone for forgiveness, she died. In common prayer to Jehovah God, Jews and Babylonians unite.