State Theatre Cottbus: Nabucco | Premiere

Lyric drama in four parts by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Temistocle Solera Powerful choruses, great pathos of freedom, and dramatic intensity: With NABUCCO, the young Verdi achieved his breakthrough as an opera composer in 1842, and to this day, the work remains one of the most popular titles in the repertoire. Now, for the first time, it will be staged at the Staatstheater Cottbus. At the center is the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II, a biblical symbol of hubris, punishment, and purification. Nabucco, as he is called in Italian, has subjugated the people of Israel. In a fit of megalomania, he declares himself a god and is punished with madness for it. His scheming daughter exploits his weakness to seize power for herself. The political intrigue is contrasted with an emotional family and love drama. The famous prisoners' chorus of the Israelites, "Va, pensiero," became the secret anthem of the Italian freedom movement of the Risorgimento. For more information: Website Staatstheater Cottbus