Production / Nabucco / Latvian National Opera

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Cast

Nabucco: Jānis Apeinis

Abigaille : Julija Vasiljeva, Tatiana Trenogina

Ismaele : Raimonds Bramanis, Andris Ludvigs, Guntars Ruņģis

Fenena: Laura Grecka, Ilona Bagele

Zaccaria: Edgars Ošleja, Krišjānis Norvelis

Abdallo: Guntars Ruņģis

Anna: Evija Martinsone

High Priest of Baal: Krišjānis Norvelis, Rihards Mačanovskis

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About

I can say with a certainty that this opera marked the beginning of my career as a composer -said Giuseppe Verdi. In 1840, after the death of both children and his wife, Giuseppe Verdi is stricken by a deep depression. Only after two years - in 1842, the composer overcomes his crises, settles down to work and writes Nabucco. The resounding triumph after the performance of Nabucco opened the era of glory for Giuseppe Verdi's operas.

The LNO stage version of Nabucco is based on the concept of time. The theme of time can be traced also in the visual interpretation of the production- it is the course of the sun, the course of human life and, above all, the judgement of the Supreme Power of our thoughts and deeds.

Performance language: Italian
Translation in surtitles: Latvian, English

Synopsis

SYNOPSIS

The action of the first part takes place in Jerusalem and other parts in Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC), who in 586 BC destroyed the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.

Part I JERUSALEM

The interior of the Temple of Solomon

The Babylonians (also referred to as Assyrians), led by King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar) are about to attack Jerusalem. The High Priest of the Hebrews, Zaccaria (Zechariah) hopes that Nabucco's daughter Fenena, whom he holds hostage, will help secure peace. Fenena is placed under the care of Nabucco's nephew Ismaele (Ishmael) while Zaccaria and the Hebrews go to defend the city.
Ismaele and Fenena are secretly in love. Their flight together is interrupted by a band of Babylonian soldiers disguised as Hebrews. They are led by Nabucco's eldest daughter Abigaille, also in love with Ismaele. After confronting the two lovers, she confesses her own feelings and offers to save the Hebrews for his love. Ismaele refuses.
The Hebrews retreat back to the Temple. Nabucco and his advancing army are stopped by Zaccaria at the Temple threshold. Nabucco apperas to yield as Zaccaria threatens to kill Fenena.
Ismaele suddenly wrests the dagger from Zaccaria's grasp. With Fenena now safe, Nabucco orders the Temple burned. Abigaille denounces her love and vows to annihilate the Hebrews. Zaccaria curses Ismaele for freeing Fenena and betraying his people.

Part II THE WICKED MAN OR THE UNBELIEVER

An apartment in the Royal Palace of Babylon

Abigaille discovers she is not the King's daughter but a slave. Still ambitious for power, she rages against Nabucco for appointing Fenena as regent while she herself remains in Babylon. She plans revenge against Fenena - her rival for love and the throne. The High Priest of Baal reports to Abigaille that Fenena is freeing the Hebrews. Desperate, Baal spreads a rumor of Nabucco's falli n battle. Abigaille exalts in the thought of ascending the throne.
Zaccaria intends to convert Fenena to the Jewish faith. Ismaele, Zaccaria's sister Anna and Fenena gather in the hall. The King's death and Abigaille's rise to power is reported. The latter enters with High Priest of Baal to snatch the crown from Fenena. Suddenly, Nabucco apperas and takes the crown to himself. After commanding the Hebrews to succumb and hail the „new God", a thunderbolt rips the crown from his head. Nabucco apperas to go mad. The crown is retrieved by Abigaille.

Part III THE PROPHECY

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Abigaille now assumes power. The High Priest of Baal asks for death for Fenena and the Hebrews. Disoriented and unable to yield to Abigaille's taunts, Nabucco signs the death warrant. He then attempts to save Fenena by producing the document proving Abigaille's lowly birth. She tears it apart and places Nabucco under arrest. His pleas to save Fenena are in vain.
The enslaved Hebrews long for their lost homeland. Zaccaria prophesies and end to their suffering and the destruction of Babylon.

Part IV THE BROKEN IDOL

An apartment in the Palace

Stirred awake, Nabucco sees Fenena being led to her execution. He begs forgiveness to the Hebrew God and promises to rebuild the Temple. His mind clears. He rushes off to save Fenena.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Nabucco and his soldiers arrive to save Fenena and the Hebrews. He orders the destruction of the image of Baal. It falls and shatters. Nabucco bids the Hebrews to return to their country and prasies the Lord. Abigaille has taken poison and nears death. She begs Fenena forgiveness and, upon seeing Ismaele, urges Nabucco to protect the two lovers. She dies invoking the God of the Hebrews.

Reviews

Kristupas Sepkus december 17, 2022, 2:31

Nabucco being the opera of my younger and more naively - romantic days from some 20 odd years ago, I went to Riga to see it thinking that after such a long break I will not be able to reawaken the feelings. From the first moment till the last my soul raged with grandeur and cried. The cast and music were excellent, but it was maestro Luccio Gallo who turned my world upside down.A true Biblical Nebuchadnezzar - I never heard and saw a singer wielding such demonic power.

Kiára Árgenta february 25, 2018, 15:48

Latvian National Opera’s production is a visually stunning arrangement, with sumptuous costumes and dramatic sets, placing ‘Nabucco’ firmly on the grand scale of ‘Aida’ as a true epic production. In a similar fashion to ‘Aida’, this is an opera which craves the big time; there are no short cuts, no modernisation which will do justice to the opera that made Verdi’s name.

In ‘Nabucco’, Verdi created characters with voices of such contrasts from the almost glass-splintering high notes of Abigaille, to the predominantly deep basses and baritones of the male leads. Samsons Izjumovs is well cast in the opera’s title role as the ancient Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, full of raw power and grandeur. with his rich baritone to add to the bass of Zaccaria and High Priest of Baal.

Julianna Bavarska owns the stage as Abigaille with her tremendous soprano voice, controlled to perfection and powerfully stretching the high notes seemingly through the Opera House into the night sky, as befitting the queen she becomes, however fleetingly. Mezzo Laura Grecka’s delicate but dignified Fenena provides a contrast to the ruthless power hungry Abigaille, with Raimonds Bramanis’ Ismaele completing the painful love triangle which in true dramatic fashion, will claim at least one life.

The passionate intensely dramatic orchestral score of ‘Nabucco’, all heavy strings and war-like crescendos which is at times ferocious, crashing tidal waves, suddenly softly melts into moments of calm such as ‘Chorus of Hebrew Slaves’ or ‘Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate’. ‘Fly, thought, on golden wings’. As this opera established Verdi as one of the greatest Italian composers, it is fitting that the crowds at his funeral sang this soaring refrain.

Giuseppe Verdi

Nabucco

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