Foto: Ennevi / Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona Nabucco: Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2025
Verona, Arena di Verona
About the Event
In the new production, enjoy the emotional drama on stage and the heat of the ancient stones as Verdi's great patriotic opera fills the Arena di Verona with family and political drama and unforgettable music.
Few settings could be more fitting for this drama on a grand scale as the fate of a nation plays out through Verdi's score, including the 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' — an historical rallying cry in Italy's fight for nationhood, and one of the world's most‐loved opera choruses.
Nabucco is an opera in four acts composed by Giuseppe Verdi in 1841 on a libretto by Temistocle Solera. The libretto is based on a 1836 play by Auguste Anicet‐Bourgeois and Francis Cornu, and on the biblical books of Daniel and Jeremiah.
Combining romance and politics, as the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco) assaults Jerusalem, personal dramas play out. Enslaved, the Israelites sing the famous 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' — an extract that achieved instant success as an unofficial revoutionary hymn for the northern Italians chafing under Habsburg rule — and eventually emerge triumphant.
Act 1
The Israelites of Jerusalem bewail their fate as the Babylonians besiege Jerusalem. They hope Fenena, Nabucco's daughter, held as a hostage, may save them the worst of the Balbylonian's rage.
Ismaele, the son of the King of Jerusalem enters to warn that the Babylonian army is victorious, and Zaccaria, the High Priest, leaves Fenena in his care. Fenena and Ismaele speak of their meeting in Babylon, and their love for one another.
Fenena's warrior sister, Abigaille, bursts into the temple at the head of a troop of Babylonian soldiers. Abigaille promises Ismaele his life and clemency for his people if he will return her love and become her consort. Ismaele declines, and the victorious Nabucco enters the Temple.
Zaccaria curses the Babylonian king as a blasphemer, and threatens to kill Fenena, but Ismaele intervenes to save his beloved and returns her, unharmed, to her father. The Israelites curse Ismaele, and Nabucco orders the Temple looted and razed to the ground.
Act 2
In Babylon, Abigaille finds a document that shows she is not the daughter of the king, but the child of slaves. She thinks of how different things might have been if Ismaele had returned her love, but vows vengeance on Nabucco and his heir, Fenena.
The High Priest of Baal enters to say that the Babylonians have decided to offer the throne to Abigaille, as Fenena has freed the Israelite prisoners.
Zaccaria prays for God's guidance in his quest to convert the Babylonians, starting with Fenena. A palace advisor rushes in to tell the newly‐converted Fenena of rumours that the King is dead, and Abigaille stands poised to take the throne.
Before Fenena can escape, Abigaille and the High Priest of Baal enter, sentence the Israelites to death, and demand the royal scepter from Fenena, who defies her sister. Suddenly Nabucco reappears and proclaims himself both King and God. The King is struck down by a lightning bolt, and goes insane.
Act 3
Abigaille is acclaimed as ruler of Babylon. The High Priest urges her to sign the warrant for the execution of the Israelite prisoners.
Nabucco enters, and Abigaille placates him by saying she is acting as Regent until he returns to health. Abigaille convinces Nabucco to sign the warrant, then taunts him with the fact that Fenena's life is also forfeit. Nabucco tries to find the document proving Abigaille's parentage, but she tears it up in front of him. Nabucco looks for support from the guards, but realises none remain loyal to him.
On the banks of the Euphrates, the Israelites rest from their forced labours, and dream of returning to their homeland, victorious.
Act 4
Nabucco awakes from a restless sleep to hear the sounds of Fenena being lead to her execution. He tries to intervene, but realises he too is a prisoner. Nabucco prays to the Israelite's God to save his daughter, promising that he will convert and lead all of his people to do likewise. Nabucco's reason returns, and he is able to convince his advisors that he is himself again, and to rally forces loyal to his authority.
Outside, Fenena goes to her death, hailed as a martyr. Nabucco arrives just in time, and calls for the statue of Baal to be destroyed. Miraculously, it tumbles down.
Abigaille takes poison, and confesses her crimes as she dies, praying for Ismaele and Fenena to be united, and for the forgiveness of the Israelites' God. Nabucco commands the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. He now shares their faith. The crowd praises God for the miracle they have witnessed.
Practical Information
Included are:
- Ticket to the opera performance in the chosen category
- One month's free access to a premium classical music streaming service
- self‐guided audio tour of Verona in English
Program
- Giuseppe Verdi – Nabucco
Cast / Production
Direction, Set Design, Costumes, Lights: Stefano Poda
Conductor: Pinchas Steinberg
Orchestra, Chorus and Technical team: Fondazione Arena di Verona
Chorus Master: Roberto Gabbiani
Director of stage design: Michele Olcese
Nabucco:
Amartuvshin Enkhbat 13/06 14/06 21/06 10/07 21/08
Youngjun Park 28/06
Luca Salsi 09/08 16/08
Igor Golovatenko 05/09
Ismaele:
Francesco Meli 13/06 21/06 09/08 16/08
Galeano Salas 14/06 28/06 10/07 21/08 05/09
Zaccaria:
Roberto Tagliavini 13/06 21/06 28/06
Alexander Vinogradov 14/06 09/08 16/08 05/09
Christian Van Horn 10/07
Simon Lim 21/08
Abigaille:
Anna Pirozzi 13/06 21/06 28/06
Maria José Siri 14/06 10/07
Olga Maslova 09/08 16/08 21/08 05/09
Fenena:
Vasilisa Berzhanskaya 13/06 21/06
Francesca Di Sauro 14/06 28/06
Aigul Akhmetshina 16/08 21/08 05/09
Il Gran Sacerdote di Belo:
Gabriele Sagona 13/06 14/06 21/06 28/06 10/07 09/08 16/08 21/08 05/09
Abdallo:
Carlo Bosi 13/06 21/06 28/06 10/07
Matteo Macchioni 14/06 09/08 16/08 21/08 05/09
Anna:
Daniela Cappiello 13/06 28/06 10/07 21/08
Elisabetta Zizzo 14/06 21/06 05/09
Elena Borin 09/08 16/08
Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is the third largest Roman amphitheatre still standing. Built around 30 AD, the Arena is also among the best-preserved amphitheatres of the period. Its gigantic dimensions (140 meters long and 100 meters wide), and seating for over 30,000 spectators, ensure it dominates the northern part of Piazza Bra. Excellent acoustics and a fabulous location make it an ideal venue for large-scale opera performances. The monument was re-established as a theatre during the Renaissance, and in 1913 the tradition of opera at the Arena di Verona began with a production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Aida'.
Customer Reviews
5.0 of 5
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Changzhi G, 中国
Sep 2014
非常，非常棒！
Address
Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra 28, Verona, Italy — Google Maps
