MANILA, Philippines—Embark on a Journey to Ancient Babylon with Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco, premiering in the Philippines via CCP The Met: Live in HD on April 2, 5:30 PM, exclusively at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1 in Makati City.
Verdi’s third opera unfolds a gripping drama depicting the fall of ancient Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco) and the subsequent exile of the Hebrews in Babylon.
The opera’s inception is as captivating as its plot. History recounts Verdi’s vow to quit composing after the death of his first wife and the lukewarm reception of his previous work, Un Giorno di Regno. However, upon encountering Solera’s libretto, Verdi experienced a change of heart, creating an opera that propelled his career forward.
Image Courtesy of CCP.
Premiering at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan in 1842, the opera met resounding success. While staying close to biblical events based on Jewish scriptures, librettist Temistocle Solera took some liberties with certain characters.
Baritone George Gagnidze makes his Met role debut as the imperious king Nabucco, accompanied by soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska reprising her thrilling portrayal of his vengeful daughter Abigaille. Mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova and tenor Seok-Jong Baek, in his company debut, play Fenena and Ismaele, whose love transcends politics, and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy repeats his celebrated portrayal of the high priest Zaccaria.
Under the baton of Daniele Callegari, Verdi’s exhilarating early masterpiece, featuring the iconic chorus piece “Va, pensiero” (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves), comes to life.
When Verdi passed away six decades later, Arturo Toscanini led orchestras and choruses from all over Italy to perform “Va, pensiero” during the state funeral of the Italian composer in Milan.
Experience this classic Met staging of biblical proportions, directed by Elijah Moshinsky. Tickets are priced at Php 350, with a special discounted rate of Php 100 for students and young professionals upon presentation of ID.
For further details about CCP The Met: Live in HD Season 9, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and follow their official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.