Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian Opera Nabucco
Composed:1841 (revised 1842)
First Performance:March 9, 1842, La Scala, Milan (Italy)
Libretto:Temistocle Solera, based on Bourgeois and Cornue’s play Nabucodonosor
Setting:Jerusalem and Babylon, 6th century BC
Lyric Drama in 4 parts
The Main Characters in Verdi’s opera Nabucco
- Nabucco, King of Babylon (baritone)
- Abigaille, former slave, believed to be the daughter of Nabucco (soprano)
- Fenena, daughter of Nabucco (soprano)
- Ismaele, Nephew of the King of Jerusalem (tenor)
- Zaccaria, High Priest of Jerusalem (bass)
- High Priest of Babylon, (bass)
Basic Plot Summary of Verdi’s opera Nabucco
Part I: JERUSALEM
Nabucco, king of Babylon, advances on Jerusalem. The Jews are forced to hide in the temple. Nabucco’s daughter, Fenena, is being held prisoner there, having been kidnapped by Zaccaria. The High Priest of Jerusalem, Zaccaria, leaves Fenena with Ismaele. Ismaele and Fenena are secretly lovers. Nabucco’s other daughter, Abigaille, offers to spare the Jews and Jerusalem if Ismaele will love her (as she is also in love with Ismaele). Ismaele rejects Abigaille. Nabucco arrives at the temple. Zaccaria attempts to kill Fenena, but Ismaele rescues her. The temple in Jerusalem is destroyed. The Jews condemn Ismaele.
Part II: THE UNBELIEVER
The Jews have been taken captive and are in Babylon. Abigaille, now back in Babylon, finds out that she was born a slave and is not royalty. The Babylonians believe that Nabucco is dead based on a rumor started by the High Priest of Babylon, so they call Abigaille to take the throne. Zaccaria announces Fenena’s conversion to Judaism. Nabucco returns. He proclaims that he is God. Nabucco is struck by lightening and goes mad. Abigaille takes the crown.
Part III: THE PROPHECY
Babylon salutes Abigaille as their ruler, but the High Priest calls for the execution of all Jews (starting with Nubucco’s daughter Fenena). Abigaille tricks the still mad Nabucco into signing Fenena’s death warrant. Nabucco denounces Abigaille as a slave. She rips up the document stating the fact that she is a slave. Hebrew captives, on the banks of the Euphrates, sing a song, yearning for their homeland. (Va, pensiero) Zaccaria prophesies that Babylon will fall.
Part IV: THE BROKEN IDOL
Fenena prepares to die. Nabucco, recovered from his madness, asks the God of the Hebrews for forgiveness. Fenena, along with other Hebrews, is standing in front of the altar when shouts of “Viva Nabucco” are heard. Nabucco destroys the false idol, a statue of Baal. Nabucco frees the Hebrews. Abigaille poisons herself, begging Fenena for forgiveness, she dies. Nabucco is proclaimed King of Kings.
If you like Nabucco, here are some other operas written by Verdi:
Nabucco
- I Lombardi alla prima crociata
- Ernani
- Attila
- Macbeth
- Luisa Miller
- Rigoletto
- Il Trovatore
- La Traviata
- Simon Boccanegra
- Un ballo in maschera
- La forza del destino
- Don Carlos
- Aida
- Otello
- Falstaff
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