Nabucco – Giuseppe Verdi

DURATION: 3 hours, one interval

AGE RECOMMENDATION: 12 years and older

LANGUAGE: Italian, Finnish and English surtitles

Even though the story of Nabucco is historic and has its roots in the bible, it is still modern. Director Rodula Gaitanou and designer takis depict the story with freshness, while preserving its epic scale and adding in climate change as one of today’s greatest challenges for humankind, which fits seamlessly into Verdi’s opera.

With its grand choir scenes including opera’s undoubtedly most famous choir “Va, pensiero”, the monumental stage design and the heart-wrenching fate of the opera’s protagonists, Nabucco returns to Olavinlinna after it’s celebrated and highly acclaimed premiere in 2024 with world-class soprano Marigona Qerkezi as Abigaille. 

SYNOPSIS

Babylonian King Nabucco seeks to conquer the city of Jerusalem. As he defeats the Israelites, imprisons them and destroys their temple, he proclaims himself a god, which angers the heavens. Among the prisoners is Ismaele, a Hebrew prince, who is secretly in love with Fenena, Nabucco’s compassionate daughter. Struck down by madness, Nabucco loses his power, while his ambitious and ruthless daughter Abigaille, who is also in love with Ismaele seizes the throne. 

Meanwhile, the Israelites long for freedom. In the end, Nabucco regains his sanity, repents, converts to the God of Israel, and restores peace by freeing the Jewish people and reclaiming his throne.