Miami performances are at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

Children must be at least six years old to attend.

Nabucco

About Nabucco
“Salgo già del trono aurato”
About Nabucco, continued
“Deh, perdona”
“Va, pensiero”
Conclusion

Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Temistocle Solera

“...When I am alone with my notes, my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes, and my emotion and my joys are too much to bear.”
―Giuseppe Verdi

Nabucco is the opera that launched the spectacular career of Giuseppe Verdi, considered by many to be the greatest Italian opera composer.

This opera captures the voice of the ancient Hebrews and their struggle as exiles. In fact, it speaks with the voice of all exiles. It will touch your heart if you or your family have endured the pain of yearning for your homeland. Experience the anguish as Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylonia, destroys the Temple and forces the Hebrews from their homeland. Follow their journey as they are taken into bondage, and feel their grief. Will they survive in this new land or will they perish? And can love between two people endure in such a place?

One of the highlights of the opera is the famous chorus “Va pensiero,” which expresses the Hebrew slaves’ longing for their homeland, and which became the unofficial national anthem of Italy. It will bring you to tears.

Cast

Nabucco
Dario Solari [debut; January 25, 28, 31, February 6, 8]
Nelson Martinez [January 26, 29, February 1]

Abigaille
Maria Guleghina [debut; January 25, 28, 31]
Susan Neves [debut; January 26, 29, February 1, 6, 8]

Zaccaria
Kevin Short [debut]

Ismaele
Martin Nusspaumer

Fenena
Mabel Ledo [debut]

High Priest of Babylon
Adam Lau

Anna
Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste
Betsy Diaz

Abdalio
Casey Finnigan [debut]

Conductor
Ramón Tebar

Production Designer
Thaddeus Strassberger [debut]

Stage Director
Leigh Holman [debut]

Chorus Master
Michael Sakir

Production
Co-production of Washington National Opera, Minnesota Opera, and Opera Philadelphia

Sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected titles.
Pre-opera lecture one hour before every performance.
Post-opera talk back following every performance.

The performance will last approximately three hours.

Photo © by Scott Suchman for Washington National Opera
Musical excerpts courtesy EMI and used with permission

Synopsis

Act I: Jerusalem
In the Temple of Solomon, the Israelites pray for help against Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar), King of Babylon, who is vandalizing the city. Zaccaria, their high priest, enters with Nabucco's daughter, Fenena, whom the Hebrews hold hostage. He reassures his people that the Lord will not forsake them. As the Israelites leave, Ismaele, nephew of the king of Jerusalem, is left alone with Fenena. The two had fallen in love during his imprisonment in Babylon. Fenena helped him escape and followed him to Jerusalem. They are interrupted by the sudden appearance of Fenena's half-sister, Abigaille, and a band of disguised Babylonian soldiers. Abigaille, also in love with Ismaele, tells him that she can save his people if he will return her love, but he refuses. The Israelites rush back into the temple in a panic. When Nabucco enters with his warriors, Zaccaria confronts him, threatening to kill Fenena. Ismaele disarms the priest and delivers Fenena to her father. Nabucco orders the destruction of the temple.

Act II: The Impious One
Nabucco has appointed Fenena regent while he is away at the wars. Abigaille has found a document saying that she is not the king's daughter but the child of slaves. Foreseeing a future in which Fenena and Ismaele will rule together over Babylon, she swears vengeance. The High Priest of Baal arrives with news that Fenena has freed the Israelites. He offers the throne to Abigaille and proposes to spread the rumor that Nabucco has fallen in battle.

In the palace, Zaccaria prays for inspiration to persuade the Babylonians to give up their false idols. Ismaele enters and the assembled Levites accuse him of treachery, but Zaccaria announces that he has been pardoned for saving a fellow Israelite—the newly converted Fenena. An officer rushes in to warn Fenena that the king is dead and her life is in danger. Before she can escape, the High Priest arrives with Abigaille and the Babylonians, who proclaim Abigaille ruler. She is about to crown herself when, to the astonishment of all, Nabucco appears. He snatches the crown from her, faces the crowd and declares himself not only their king but their god. For this blasphemy, a thunderbolt strikes him down. A triumphant Abigaille retrieves the crown for herself.

Act III: The Prophecy
In the Hanging Gardens, the Babylonians hail Abigaille as their ruler. The High Priest urges her to have the Israelites killed, but before she can give the order, the disheveled Nabucco wanders in. Abigaille dismisses the crowd and tricks Nabucco into signing the death warrant for the captive Israelites. He asks what will happen to Fenena, and Abigaille replies that she too must die. When Nabucco tries to find the document proving Abigaille's ancestry, she produces it and tears it to pieces. He pleads in vain for Fenena's life.

On the banks of the Euphrates, the Israelites rest from forced labor, their thoughts turning to their homeland. Zaccaria predicts they will overcome captivity and obliterate Babylon with the help of God.

Act IV: The Broken Idol
From a window in his apartment, where he has been locked up by Abigaille, Nabucco watches Fenena and the Israelites being led to execution. Desperate, he prays to the God of Israel for forgiveness, pledging to convert himself and his people. His sanity restored, he forces open the door and summons his soldiers to regain the throne and save his daughter.

The Israelites are about to be executed. Fenena prays to be received into heaven when Nabucco rushes in and stops the sacrifice. Abigaille, full of remorse, confessing her crimes and praying to the God of Israel to pardon her, takes poison and dies. Nabucco announces his conversion and frees the Israelites, telling them to return to their native land and rebuild their temple. Israelites and Babylonians are united in praising God.

©2013 Florida Grand Opera