NABUCCO Verdi – Grand Théâtre de Genève

Politics. Religion. Nabucco is Verdi’s retelling of the Old Testament story of King Nebuchadnezzar II’s religious conversion. On one side, the fiery Hebrew priest Zaccaria, battling to lead his people from oppression. On the other, Nabucco, the tyrannical Babylonian king and his adopted daughter Abigaille, who will stop at nothing to get her father’s throne and her sister’s lover. Will King Nabucco’s ambition rob him of his beloved daughter as well as his kingdom? Nabucco was an instant success at its 1842 premiere, with the famous Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (‘Va, pensiero’) taking on a political resonance that still echoes today. The twists and turns of this epic early opera by Giuseppe Verdi are often seen as a call to the national liberation struggle that would eventually lead to Italian unity. Exile and power, displaced populations and forced migrations are themes dear to Christiane Jatahy. The Brazilian director, filmmaker and author, who was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2022, gives new life to Verdi’s metaphor of the Bible by introducing the words of those who still stand up to tyrants and extremist ideologies today around the world. In this hall of mirrors, in which chorus and audience are reflected, maestro Antonino Fogliani leads the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande through Geneva’s new production of Verdi’s masterpiece along with a cast of excellent bel canto singers, including Riccardo Zanellato, Nicola Alaimo and Saioa Hernández. Here is a telling of epic history to help us reflect on our world today. Full performance streamed on OperaVision from 30 June 2023 at 19:00 CET to 30 December 2023: CAST Nabucco Nicola Alaimo Abigaille Saioa Hernández Zaccaria Riccardo Zanellato Ismaele Davide Giusti Fenena Ena Pongrac Anna Giulia Bolcato Abdallo Omar Mancini Il Gran Sacerdote William Meinert Orchestra Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Chorus Grand Théâtre de Genève Chorus Music Giuseppe Verdi Text Temistocle Solera Conductor Antonino Fogliani Director Christiane Jatahy Sets Thomas Walgrave Marcelo Lipiani Costumes An D’Huys Lighting Thomas Walgrave Video Batman Zavarese Photography and camera direction Paulo Camacho Video system development Júlio Parente Dramaturg Clara Pons Chorus Master Alan Woodbridge OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision. WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER: INSTAGRAM: TIKTOK: @operavision