Nabucco

Nabucco (initial title: Nabuchodonosor ) is a opera in four parts of Giuseppe Verdi on a booklet of Temistocle Solera, drawn from Nabuchodonosor (1836), Drame of Auguste Anicet-Middle-class man and Francis Cornue and created the March 9th 1842 with the Scala of Milan. It evokes the biblical episode of the slavery of the Juifs to Babylon.

Creation

Interpreters of the first representation :

Nabucco , king de Babylone: Giorgio Ronconi (Baritone)
Abigaïlle , slave, supposed girl of Nabucco: Giuseppina Strepponi (Soprano)
Ismaël , nephew of the king of the Hebrews, in love with Fenena: Corrado Miraglia (Tenor)
Zaccaria , Large priest of Jerusalem: Prosper Dérivis (Low)
the Large priest of Babylon : Gaetano Rossi (Low)
Abdallo , old officer with the service of Nabucco: Napoleone Marconi (Tenor)
Anna , sister of Zaccaria: Teresa Ruggeri (Soprano)
Fenena , girl of Nabucco: Giovannina Bellinzaghi (Soprano)

Orchestra and chorus :

Scala of Milan
Maestro Al cembalo: Giuseppe Verdi then Giacomo Panizza
First violin and director of orchestra: Eugenio Cavallini
Chief of song: Giulio Granatelli
Decorations: Baldassarre Cavallotti and Filippo Peroni

Argument

In Jerusalem then in Babylon towards 587 before Jesus-Christ

First part: Jerusalem

Inside the temple of Solomon

Filled of anguish and terror, the Hebrews beg Jéhovah to come to them to assistance vis-a-vis the Babylonian troops. The large Zaccaria priest took as an hostage Fenena, the girl of Nabucco, king de Babylone. Zaccaria exhorts its people to be hoped in the divine assistance: Fenena could constitute a pledge of peace between the Hebrews and the Babylonians. Ismaël, nephew of the king of the Hebrews, announces that the advance of Nabucco and its soldiers does not know from now on any more a brake. Zaccaria encourages the Hebrews to push back the enemy and, after having entrusted Fenena to Ismaël, it moves away with all the Hebrews to defend the city and the temple. Ismaël and Fenena, secretly in love one with the other, remained only. Ismaël points out how Fenena had made it escape from prison in Babylon when it had gone there as ambassador. Now, it is Ismaël which is determined to release in its Fenena turn and to flee with it. But Nabucco having dared to penetrate in the temple, Zaccaria threatens to kill Fenena. Whereas the large priest is about to carry in Fenena a mortal blow, Ismaël interposes, retaining the hand of Zaccaria and delivering Fenena. Nabucco gives the order then to plunder the temple and to imprison the Hebrews. Zaccaria and the Hebrews curse Ismaël which, by delivering Fenena, betrayed the fatherland.

Second part: The irreligious person

Apartments of the royal palace of Babylon

Abigaïlle between only in scene, very agitated. It has just found the document hidden for several years which proves that it is actually girl of slaves, adopted in secrecy by Nabucco. She claims to accept this news but, in fact, taking into account its jealousy (Ismaël, that she likes, prefers his/her sister to him, which more is legitimate girl of Nabucco), she rather expresses projects of revenge and destruction (Récitatif: Ben io you invenni, O fatal scritto! ). A feature of flute announces a change: after a climate of violence, Abigaïlle remembers time when it also had a heart open to the joy and the compassion in a calm air and melancholic person (Air: Anch' io dischiuso a giorno ). The Large Priest and his continuation of Magi emerge then: they come to inform Abigaïlle, in load of the capacity in Babylon in this period of absence of Nabucco, that his/her Fenena sister is releasing the Jews. They can benefit from it to try to conquer the capacity by the force: they made run the noise that Nabucco died in the combat. People the advertisement like queen (scene: Chi avanza? ). Abigaïlle, triumphing, is seen already on the throne and enjoys the irony of the situation: all the people of royal blood will come to beseech the humble slave! (Air and chorus: Salgo già LED trono aurato lo sgabello insaguinato ).

Room of the royal palace

Change of scene. Between Zaccaria with a Levite. He sings a prayer with his god. This air moving and is very put forward musicalement by the only accompaniment of six violoncellos (Air: Vieni, O Levita! ). Elsewhere with the palate, Ismaël meets his/her Jewish comrades. Those are scandalized by its reaction of the first act when it protected Fenena, girl of the enemy. They curse it. Zaccaria and its Anna sister occur then. This one manages to explain why Fenena converted with the Judaism and that, consequently, Ismaël made well save it.

Third part: Prophecy

hanging gardens of Babylon

Abigaïlle, sitting on the throne beside the gold statue of Baal, in the hanging gardens of Babylon, receives the homage of its subjects. When the large priest gives to him the death sentence of Hebrew, the queen hypocritically pretends not to be certain fate to reserve to them. On arrival of the deposed king - in humble clothing and the stray air - the usurping one changes attitude and is addressed to him with an ironic arrogance, giving the order to renew it in its apartments. She prevents it that she is from now on the guardian of her seat and peremptorily invites it to affix the royal seal on the sentence of died of Hebrew. The old king hesitates, Abigaïlle threatens it, showing it of cowardice and to the end Nabucco yields. But it is taken of a doubt: what will it be of Fenena? Abigaïlle, relentless, affirm that nobody will be able to save the child and recalls him that it also is her daughter. But the king acknowledges to him that it is only one slave. She draws from her center the parchment which attests of its origin and the tiny room in scraps. The king, betrayed and détrôné, by hearing the sound of the horns which announce the imminence of the torment of Hebrew, calls his guards, but those come to stop it, obeying the orders of the new queen. Disconcerted and impotent, Nabucco in vain asks for Abigaïlle a gesture of forgiveness and pity for poor Fenena.

banks of Euphrate

On the edges of Euphrate Hebrew, overcome and captive, remembers with nostalgia and pain their dear fatherland lost (chorus: Va', pensiero, sull' Ali dorate ). The large Zaccaria priest incites them not to cry like women and prophesies a severe punishment for their enemy: Lyon of Judaea will overcome the Assyrians and will destroy Babylon.

Fourth part: The broken idol

Apartments of the royal palace of Babylon

Nabucco, only in a room of the palate awakes of a nightmare by hearing cries and, taking them for calls to the war, gathers its valiant knights to go on Jerusalem. Hearing in him other voices which repeat the name of Fenena, it advances with the window and sees with horror his connected daughter. Despaired, it runs to the door, in vain tries to open it and, realizing finally that he is prisoner, is addressed to the god of Judaea, calling upon his assistance and beseeching its forgiveness. As in answer to his prayer, its faithful Abdallo officer emerges with a handle of soldiers. Abdallo restores its sword to him and offers to him to help it to reconquer its throne.

hanging gardens of Babylon

In the hanging gardens of Babylon the sad procession of Hebrew led to the torment passes. Zaccaria reassures Fenena in the incentive to conquer the crown of martyrdom; the child prepares to enjoy the celestial joy. The mystical atmosphere is disturbed by the arrival of Nabucco which, with the head of its troops, orders to break the statue of Baal. " Miraculeusement" , the idol falls from itself. All shout with the " divine prodige" , Nabucco gives again freedom with Hebrew, announces that perfidious Abigaïlle was poisoned and orders to the people of Israel to build a temple for its large and strong god, worthy to only be adored. While all, Hebrew and Assyrian, kneel, calling upon l'" immense Jéhovah" , between Abigaïlle supported by two warriors: she confesses her fault and beseeches the forgiveness of the men and God before falling inanimate. Zaccaria addresses to Nabucco last prophecy: “Servendo has Jeovha will sarai de' governed it Re! ”.

Around Nabucco

the first Nabuchodonosor is a French drama in four acts writes by Auguste Anicet-Middle-class man and Francis Cornu which was given for the first time the October 17th 1836 to the Théâtre of Ambiguous-Comic the of Paris.
the second Nabuchodonosor is a ballet in five parts composed by Antonio Cortese, director of the Scala of Milan and which it presented for the first time during the autumn 1838.
the air of the chorus of the slaves ( Goes, pensiero ) was on several occasions had a presentiment of to be the Italian national anthem.

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