This production of Verdi’s masterpiece holds many surprises for the audience. Those who have seen *Nabucco* before will be surprised by the setting, for the time period and the characters are different. Here, Nabucco becomes Emperor Franz Joseph, the victim of an assassination attempt in the second act rather than a divine bolt of lightning; Abigaille is an Austrian princess dressed in a hussar’s uniform, while Pope Zaccaria plays a popular leader who incites the Milanese to revolt and comforts them in difficult times.

The scale of the production is also remarkable: nearly 500 people are on stage, including singers, chorus members, and extras, all in meticulously crafted period costumes designed by Bernard himself. Amidst the fluttering flags, passing carriages and horses (at least a dozen), cannon explosions, gunshots, and rifle fire that overlap with Verdi’s music, the entire stage teems with soldiers, ordinary citizens, priests, altar boys, and Red Cross nurses.

Conductor: Daniel Oren – Nabucco: George Gagnidze Ismaele: Rubens Pelizzari Zaccaria: Rafał Siwek Abigaille: Susanna Branchini – Fenena: Nino Surguladze High Priest: Nicolò Ceriani.

Length: 2:12 (excluding intermission)
Rating: