The famous opera about yearning for freedom.
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto: Temistocle Solera
Musical Preparation: Gergely Kesselyák
Conductor: Jakub Klecker, Jaroslav Kyzlink
Director: György Selmeczi
Set Design: Karel Drgáč, Josef Jelínek
Costume Design: Josef Jelínek
Chorus Master: Josef Pančík
Beautiful choruses, powerful music, stunning stage design. A passionate work about the freeing of the Jews from Babylonian captivity with the famous Va, pensiero, one of the most popular choruses of the 19th century.
The famous dramatic opera that Verdi composed in the course of just a few weeks in 1842. It nearly didn’t happen: the premiere of his preceding opera King for a Day was so unsuccessful that the young composer, furthermore crushed by the death of his wife, wanted to give up on opera. It was only with difficulty that he allowed himself to be persuaded to write the music to a libretto with an Old Testament theme. The Babylonians, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), storm Jerusalem, destroy Solomon’s temple and take the Jewish people into captivity. Jehovah punishes Nabucco with insanity, and on top of this he has to face the intrigues of his supposed daughter Abigaille. In the end he recognises his mistake and Jehovah’s strength and sets the Jews free. The popularity of this operatic tale of the freeing of the Jews from Babylonian captivity was linked to the desire of Italians at the time of its creation to be freed from their Habsburg overlords. At the time of the opera’s premiere the famous chorus “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” (Fly, thought, on golden wings…) became a liberation song sung throughout Italy. For its tense solo performances, beautiful choruses, suggestive music and wonderful journey Nabucco is one of the most successful works in our repertoire.
