Nabucco (short for Nabucodonosor , English Nebuchadnezzar ) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the biblical story and the play by Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornu. It is Verdi’s third opera and the one which is considered to have permanently established his reputation as a composer. Nabucco follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco (in English, Nebuchadnezzar). Its first performance took place on 9 March 1842 at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan under the original name of Nabucodonosor . The definitive name of Nabucco for the opera (and its protagonist) was first used at a performance at the San Giacomo Theatre of Corfu, in September, 1844. [1]

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Performance history

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 which is regularly given an encore when performed today, but until mid-2008, aside from encores during La fille du regiment , it is the only encore the Metropolitan Opera has ever allowed.

The soprano role of Abigaille is unique in that it has been perceived as the downfall of a number of singers. Elena Souliotis and Anita Cerquetti sang it before they were ready, and its high tessitura argurably damaged their voices. Maria Callas sang it only three times and only a live performance from 1949 was recorded. Leontyne Price and Dame Joan Sutherland refused to sing it. While no soprano has become known as a "great Abigaille", Marisa Galvany, Ghena Dimitrova, Dunja Vejzovic, and Jadranka Jovanovic were notable exponents of the role.

Although not as frequently performed as some of Verdi's other operas, Nabucco is still heard around the world today. It has been on the Metropolitan Opera's roster since it was first presented there during the 1960/61 season. It is the only early Verdi opera apart from Ernani and Luisa Miller which has received regular performances at the Met in recent times, having been presented in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. ^[2] Nabucco is also regularly performed at the Arena di Verona, where it was presented in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008. ^[3] Amongst the performances preserved on DVD are those at the Arena di Verona (1981 and 2007); La Scala (1987), Opera Australia (1996), Vienna State Opera (2001), Metropolitan Opera (2002), Genoa's Teatro Carlo Felice (2004), Teatro Municipale di Piacenza (2004), and Austria's St. Margarethen Opera Festival (2007). ^[4] Many other companies have also performed it, including San Francisco Opera in 1982, Sarasota Opera in 1995, London's Royal Opera House in 1996, the New National Theatre Tokyo in 1998, Teatro Colón in 2000, Baltimore Opera in 2006, and the Teatro Regio di Parma in 2008 as part of their on-going "Festival Verdi" ^[5]

Critical reaction

Verdi 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". ^[6] The opera was an instant success, dominating Donizetti's and Giovanni Pacini's operas playing nearby. While the public went mad with enthusiasm, the critics tempered their approval of the opera.

One critic who found Nabucco revolting was Otto Nicolai, the composer to whom the libretto was first offered. A Prussian-bred man, Nicolai felt at odds with emotional Italian opera while he lived near Milan. After refusing to accept the libretto proposal from Merelli, Nicolai began work on another offer called Il Proscritto . Its disastrous premiere in March 1841 forced Nicolai to cancel his contract with Merelli and return to Vienna. From there he learned of the success of Nabucco and was enraged. "Verdi's operas are really horrible," he wrote. "He scores like a fool — technically he is not even professional — and he must have the heart of a donkey and in my view he is a pitiful, despicable composer ... ". Additionally, he described Nabucco as nothing but "rage, invective, bloodshed and murder."

Nicolai's opinions were in the minority, however, and he has today become comparatively obscure. Nabucco secured Verdi's success until his retirement from the theatre, twenty-nine operas (including some revised and updated versions) later.

Music historians have long perpetuated a powerful myth about the famous Va, pensiero chorus sung in the third act by the Hebrew slaves. Scholars have long believed the audience, responding with nationalistic fervor to the slaves' powerful hymn of longing for their homeland, demanded an encore of the piece. As encores were expressly forbidden by the government at the time, such a gesture would have been extremely significant. However, recent scholarship puts this and the corresponding myth of Va, pensiero as the national anthem of the Risorgimento, to rest. Although the audience did indeed demand an encore, it was not for "Va, pensiero" but rather for the hymn "Immenso Jehova," sung by the Hebrew slaves to thank God for saving his people. In light of these new revelations, Verdi's position as the musical figurehead of the Risorgimento has been correspondingly downplayed. ^{[7] [8]}. At Verdi's funeral, the crowds in the streets spontaneously broke into "Va, pensiero". ^[9]

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 9 March 1842 (Conductor: - )
Nabucco, King of Babylon	baritone	Giorgio Ronconi
Abigaille, supposedly his elder daughter	soprano	Giuseppina Strepponi
Fenena, his daughter	mezzo-soprano	Giovannina Bellinzaghi
Ismaele, son of the King of Jerusalem	tenor	Corrado Miraglia
Zaccaria, high priest of the Jews	bass	Prosper Dérivis
Anna, Zaccaria's sister	soprano	Teresa Ruggeri
Abdallo, Babylonian soldier	tenor	Napoleone Marcone
High priest of Baal	bass	Gaetano Rossi
People, soldiers

Synopsis ^"ref">[10] ==

Time: 587 BC

Place: Jerusalem and Babylon

Act 1: Jerusalem

Interior of the Temple of Jerusalem

The Jews are being defeated and Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar) is poised to enter Jerusalem. The High Priest Zaccaria tells the people not to despair but to trust in God: D'Egitto là su i lidi / "On the shores of Egypt He saved the life of Moses". The presence of a hostage, Fenena, younger daughter of Nabucco, may yet secure peace (Aria: Come notte a sol fulgente / "Like darkness before the sun, like dust before the wind"). Zaccaria entrusts Fenena to Ismaele, nephew of the King of Jerusalem and a former envoy to Babylon. Although Fenena and Ismaele love each other, when they are left alone, Ismaele urges her to escape rather than risk her life. Nabucco's elder daughter, Abigaille, storms into the temple with soldiers in disguise. She, too, loves Ismaele. Discovering the lovers, she threatens Ismaele: if he does not give up Fenena, Abigaille will accuse her of treason. The King himself enters (Viva Nabucco / "Long live Nabucco"). Zaccaria defies him, threatening to kill Fenena with a dagger. Ismaele intervenes to save her. Nabucco responds by ordering the destruction of the temple, and the Jews curse Ismaele as a traitor.

Act 2: The Unbeliever

Scene 1: The Palace in Babylon

Nabucco is away at the wars and has appointed Fenena as regent. Abigaille has discovered a document that proves she is not Nabucco's real daughter, but a slave (Aria: Anch'io dischiuso un giorno / "I too once opened my heart to happiness"). The High Priest of Baal, accompanied by the Magi, comes to tell Abigaille that Fenena has released the Jewish captives. Their response is to launch a coup to put Abigaille on the throne, while spreading a rumour that Nabucco has died in battle, and they leave Abigaille to sing the cabaletta: Salgo già del trono aurato / "I am ready to ascend the bloodstained seat of the golden throne").

Scene 2: A hall in the Palace in Babylon

Accompanied by a cello sextet, Zacharia awaits Fenena (Vieni, o Levita / "Bring the tables of the law"). She converts to the Jewish religion, and Ismaele is reconciled to the Jews. However, it is announced that the King is dead and Abigaille and the High Priest of Baal demand the crown from Fenena. Unexpectedly, Nabucco himself enters, scorning both sides, both Baal and the Hebrew god that he has defeated. He declares himself God. When Zaccaria objects, Nabucco orders the Jews to be put to death. Fenena says that she will share their fate. Repeating that he is now god: Non son piu re, son dio / "I am no King! I am God!"), Nabucco is promptly hit by a thunderbolt and loses his senses. The crown falls and is picked up by Abigaille.

Act 3: The Prophecy

Scene 1: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The High Priest of Baal presents Abigaille with the death decree for the Jews and Fenena. Nabucco enters looking like a mad man, claiming his throne. Abigaille persuades him to seal the decree, but he asks that Fenena be saved. He tells Abigaille that she is not his true daughter but a slave. Abigaille mocks him, destroying the document with the evidence of her true origins. Understanding that he is now a prisoner, he pleads for Fenena's life. (Duet: Oh di qual onta aggravasi questo mio crin canuto / "Oh what affront I must suffer in my old age"). Abigaille exults.

Scene 2: Banks of the River Euphrates

The Jews long for their homeland: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate / "Fly thought on golden wings; Fly and settle on the slopes and hills"). Zaccaria once again exhorts them to have faith: God will destroy Babylon.

Act 4: The Shattered Idol

Scene 1: The Palace in Babylon
Nabucco awakens, his strength and his reason fully regained. He sees Fenena in chains being taken to her death. Asking forgiveness of the God of the Jews, he promises to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and follow the true faith (Dio di Giuda / "God of Judah! The altar, your sacred Temple, shall rise again"). Joined by loyal soldiers, he resolves to punish the traitors and rescue Fenena.

Scene 2: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
As Zaccaria leads Fenena and the Jews towards death (Va! La palma del martirio......dischius'è il firmamento / "Go, maid, go and conquer the palm of martyrdom"...."Oh, heaven has opened up! My soul yearns for the Lord") on the sacrificial altar of Baal, Nabucco rushes in, sword in hand. At his word the Idol of Baal shatters into pieces. Nabucco tells the Jews they are free and a new Temple will be raised to their God. Abigaille enters. She has poisoned herself. She expresses her remorse, asks the forgiveness of Fenena and dies. Zaccaria acclaims Nabucco as the servant of God and the King of Kings.

Orchestration

Nabucco is scored for two flutes (one doubling as piccolo), two oboes (one doubling as English horn), two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones (two tenor, one bass), one cimbasso, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, side drum, triangle, two harps, strings, and an onstage band.

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Nabucco, Abigaille, Zaccaria, Ismaele, Fenena)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
1965	Tito Gobbi, Elena Souliotis, Carlo Cava, Bruno Prevedi, Dora Caral	Lamberto Gardelli, Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus	Audio CD: Decca Cat:
1984	Piero Cappuccilli, Ghena Dimitrova, Evgeny Nesterenko , Placido Domingo, Lucia Valentini Terrani	Giuseppe Sinopoli, Deutschen Oper Berlin	Audio CD: DG Cat:
1987	Renato Bruson, Ghena Dimitrova, Paata Burchuladze, Bruno Beccaria, Raquel Pierotti	Riccardo Muti, La Scala, Milan Orchestra and Chorus	DVD: Kultur Cat:
2002	Samuel Ramey, Maria Guleghina, Juan Pons, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Wendy White	James Levine, Metropolitan Opera	DVD: DG, live recording Cat: B0006O9M6S
2004	Alberto Gazale, Susan Neves, Orlin Anastassov, Yasuharu Nakajiima, Annamaria Popescu	Riccardo Frizza, Teatro Carlo Felice Orchestra and Chorus	DVD: Dynamic, live recording Cat: 33465

Notes

1. Giuseppe Verdi website, "Life and Operas: ''Nabucodonosor'' "
2. Metropolitan Opera,Repertory Statistics
3. Arena di Verona, Performance Archives
4. Royal Opera House DVD Catalog
5. Parma's 2008 "Festival Verdi"
6. Quoted from "An Autobiographical Sketch" (1879) in Werfel, Franz and Stefan, Paul (trans. Edward Downes), ''Verdi: The Man in his Letters'', p.92
7. Parker, ''Leonora's Last Act'', 1997
8. Parker, "Verdi and Milan", 2007
9. Phillips-Matz, p.765
10. This synopsis by Simon Holledge was first published on Opera japonica http://www.operajaponica.org and appears here by permission.

References

1. Giuseppe Verdi website, "Life and Operas: ''Nabucodonosor'' "
2. Metropolitan Opera,Repertory Statistics
3. Arena di Verona, Performance Archives
4. Royal Opera House DVD Catalog
5. Parma's 2008 "Festival Verdi"
6. Quoted from "An Autobiographical Sketch" (1879) in Werfel, Franz and Stefan, Paul (trans. Edward Downes), ''Verdi: The Man in his Letters'', p.92
7. Parker, ''Leonora's Last Act'', 1997
8. Parker, "Verdi and Milan", 2007
9. Phillips-Matz, p.765
10. This synopsis by Simon Holledge was first published on Opera japonica http://www.operajaponica.org and appears here by permission.