Nabucco

This new production for the summer of 2024 is a powerful portrayal of the lust for power and lost freedom. When we ask what audiences want, Nabucco always gets a mention. It’s so good that the composer Verdi himself knew he’d struck gold. The new Nabucco at Olavinlinna is directed by the award-winning Rodula Gaitanou.

Nabucco takes place in a fascinatingly timeless past. Director Rodula Gaitanou and designer takis depict the story with sharpness and freshness, while preserving its epic scale. It’s not just about war and an oppressed people; it’s also about love.

Nabucco is famous for its magnificent choral scenes. 

Nabucco is a Babylonian king who invades and robs the Jewish population of his neighbouring country, subjecting them to slavery and forced labour. Power intoxicates and deludes him. It makes the king play god. Meanwhile, the bitter Abigaille, one of the strongest female roles in the operatic repertoire, awaits her own moment of revenge.

Nabucco is famous for its magnificent choral scenes. The grand chorus is like one of the characters in the opera. The hit of the evening, Va, pensiero from the Hebrew slaves, strikes to the very heart. The High Priest’s role is song by bass Mika Kares.