Opera tonight: Nabucco against the dictators
OperaSlippedisc, courtesy of OperaVision, streams Grand Théâtre de Genève’s production of Nabucco. The opera 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 around the world. In this hall of mirrors, in which chorus and audience are reflected, 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 as Zaccaria, Nicola Alaimo as Nabucco and Saioa Hernández as Abigaille. Sung in Italian with subtitles in English, Italian and French.
The Plot: 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?
Available 30 June 2023 at 1900 CET / 1800 London/ 1300 NY
Saioa Hernandez has performed this treacherous role in several important revivals. She has grown in handling the technical demands and, remarkably, has suffered any determination of her quite outstanding voice. She possesses a large soprano with gleaming and easy high notes, a rich and strong low voice and some lovely tone in the middle voice. Why she isn’t singing her roles in NYC and North America is a mystery. Alaimo demonstrating superior bel canto singing and also offered a vivid characterization. Certainly head and shoulders over Pons, Lucia and Domingo.
The production is on the wired side but not as bad as several others of this opera.
That should have been ‘hasn’t suffered’ any vocal deteriation.
Now here is a successful 21st century interpretive staging of a 19th century opera that truly delivers the goods! This is glowing genius on all creative levels! Bravos all around! And a special shout-out to the immortal “Joe Green”!