Nabucco (Royal Opera House)

Sun. May 12, 2013 at 1:30pm EDT
$16.00 - $20.00
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$16.00 - $20.00
Event Description
Nabucco (Royal Opera House)

Plácido Domingo, one of the most celebrated talents of our time, is making a major role debut. This is a rare chance to see a genre-defining masterwork, containing some of the greatest choral music ever written, along with some wonderful arias and ensembles. This new production of Nabucco is unmissable.

Domingo takes another thrilling step into the baritone repertory following his triumphs as Simon Boccanegra, as he sings the title role of Nabucco for the first time. He is joined by an exciting young cast including Ukranian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska as the power-hungry priestess Abigaille. Acclaimed theatre and opera director Daniele Abbado makes his Royal Opera debut directing this coproduction with La Scala, Milan.

The plot is based on the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), and focuses on his imprisonment of the Hebrews, his struggle against his unscrupulous daughter, Abigaille, his divine punishment and final salvation. Verdi’s rich score offers melody, power and raw drama on a scale that does full justice to the opera’s epic themes of nationhood, faith, love and redemption and calls upon the full might of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Royal Opera Chorus.

Synopsis:

The Biblically based story of “Nabucco” (Nebuchadnezzar in English) follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered and exiled from their homeland by Babylon’s king: Nabucco. The Babylonian army led by King Nabucco is at the gates of Jerusalem, the defeat of the Jews imminent. Nabucco’s younger daughter, Fenena, while held a hostage of the Jews, has fallen in love with her jailer, Ismaele. Her older sister Abigaille, also in love with Ismaele from his time in Babylon as a diplomatic envoy, enters in disguise with Babylonian guards, only to learn that Fenena and Ismaele are preparing to escape. Unless Ismaele becomes her lover, Abigaille threatens to expose them.

Back in the Babylonia palace after the defeat and enslavement of the Israelites, Abigaille finds out that she was adopted by Nabucco, and that his real daughter, Fenena, who converted to Judaism to placate the conquered people, has been named regent. Nabucco declares himself a god and for this heresy he is struck, though not killed, by a lightning bolt. Abigaille takes advantage of his stunned condition to seize the crown and issue a death decree for all Jews, including her recently converted sister.

Nabucco regains his senses just in time to see Fenena being led as a sacrifice to the altar of the pagan god Baal. He prays to the god of the Jews, leads a revolt against Abigaille, frees the Jews and promises to build them a temple bigger than the one he ordered destroyed in his victory over Jerusalem. Abigaille takes poison, seeks forgiveness and dies. The high priest Zaccaria proclaims Nabucco the king of the world as the multitude rejoices. Fenena and Isamele are now free to marry.
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Venue Details
Map of Venue Location.
Picture House Main Hall 175 Wolfs Lane
Pelham, NY 10803