Nabucco

23 & 27th July at 19:00, 25th July matinée 14:00
The Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Dorset
Sung in Italian with English surtitles | 600-seat theatre | full orchestra | chorus of 70

Brief Synopsis

Nabucco is Verdi’s third opera and the one that cemented his reputation as a composer. Brimming with unforgettable arias and rousing choruses, none is more famous than Va, pensiero..! better known to English-speaking audiences as the ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’. The opera tells the story of how Babylonian King, Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar II), is manipulated by his adopted daughter, Abigaille (one of the most challenging and punishing roles in all opera. His real daughter, Fenena, is being held hostage by the Israelites and this being opera, we have the obligatory love triangle; Nabucco’s temporary madness after being struck by lightning and, Abigaille’s discovery of her status and subsequent elevation to the throne. Alone, near the end of the opera, Nabucco reflects on his life and, in a final attempt to purge his sins, he decides to pray to Jehovah, God of the Hebrews, whereupon his sanity is miraculously restored. He leads his armies to save Fenena and frees the Israelites. The opera ends with Abigaille taking poison and praying to Jehovah for forgiveness as she expires.

Cast & Creative Team

Nabucco, King of Babylon Mark S Doss
Abigaille, supposedly his elder daughter Claire Rutter
Fenenahis daughter Carolyn Dobbin
Ismaele, nephew of the King of Jerusalem Adriano Graziani
Zaccaria, high priest of the Jews Andrei Valentiy
Anna, Zaccaria’s sister Suzanne Manuell
Abdallo, a Babylonian soldier Jung Soo Yun
High Priest of Baal Tim Bagley
Conductor Jeremy Carnall
Director Peter Relton
Designer Louis Carver
Costume Realisation April Dalton
Lighting designer Marc Rosette
Chorus Master Stephen Harris
Orchestra Leader David Spencer