An Afternoon at the Opera: "Nabucco"

Join us for An Afternoon at the Opera, a new film series celebrating the unforgettable productions of the Metropolitan Opera. Each screening will be introduced by local opera enthusiast Peter Eder, who will share insights and background to enrich your viewing experience. Settle in, savor the music, and enjoy world-class opera right here at the library. Opera: Nabucco Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Premiere: La Scala Opera House, Milan Italy, March 9, 1842 First U.S. Performance: Astor Opera House, New York City, April 4, 1828 First New York Metropolitan Opera Performance: October 24, 1960 Performance Date of Recording: 2024 Season Conductor: Daniele Callegari Runtime: 2h 40m Synopsis Based on several books of the Old Testament, the opera follows the plight of the Israelites as they are assaulted by the Assyrians and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King, Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar II). Depicted in Jerusalem and Babylon in the 6th century BC, it relates the story of the King’s madness and subsequent return to sanity by praying to the heathen god. These historical events are used as a framework for a romantic and political plot. Written by Verdi in 1841, premiering the following year at La Scala in Milan, it was the third of his 28 operas. At a time when the unification and self-governance of Italy was unfolding, Verdi himself a nationalist proponent, the chorus “Va, Pensiero” became an unofficial national anthem. In addition, it persisted in serving as that for almost a hundred years. What sets the opera apart from almost all other major operas is the powerful use of the chorus throughout the entire opera. This Production The Hi Definition broadcast of the opera was recorded during the 2024 season. It is a monumental production created by Elijah Moshinsky in 2001 for the New York Metropolitan Opera . The conductor of the broadcast was sixty-six-year-old Daniele Callegari, born in Milan. Callegari is conducting this year in Tokyo, Shanghai, Palermo, Venice, Rome, Venice, Wexford and Vienna. Donald Palumbo, the New York Metropolitan Opera Chorus Director for 17 years, led the Chorus (of 75 voices and the only full-time professional opera chorus in the U.S.) He was recently named Director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus.