UNITEL and CLASSICA present
Leo Nucci ∙ Maria Guleghina ∙ Fabio Sartori
Giuseppe Verdi Nabucco from the Arena di VeronaNabucco
fter his first two operas “Oberto“ and “Un giorno di A regno,“ Verdi fell into a depression that dissipated only when he was shown the libretto to “Nabucco“ and dis- covered the chorus “Va, pensiero.“ The words sung by the Hebrew exiles made an indelible impression on the composer, who also saw the political potential within them: an echo of the Italians‘ longing for freedom and a unified nation. The Music by Giuseppe Verdi work was premiered at the Teatro alla Scala on 9 March Libretto by Temistocle Solera 1842 and was an enormous success. The story of the Babylo- nian King and the captive Israelites stirred a patriotic cord in Conducted by Daniel Oren the hearts of the Milan audiences and swiftly carried Verdi‘s Chorus Chorus of the Arena di Verona name throughout Italy and the rest of the world. Chorus Master Marco Faelli Orchestra Orchestra of the Arena di Verona “Nabucco“ has long been at home in the Arena di Verona, and for many, the “Va pensiero“ chorus is, along with Nabucco Leo Nucci the triumphal march from “Aida,“ the very embodiment of the Ismaele Fabio Sartori Verona experience. This video production vividly captures this Zaccaria Carlo Colombara unique experience and provides the viewer with fascinating Abigaille Maria Guleghina details that escape many of the Arena‘s spectators. Stage Fenena Nino Surguladze director Denis Krief casts the work in a sparse modern setting, High Priest of Baal Carlo Striuli providing a highly effective showcase for the true heroes of Abdallo Carlo Bosi the evening, the singers under conductor Daniel Oren. Anna Patrizia Cigna “Nuanced and temperamental, Daniel Oren‘s interpre- Directed by Denis Krief tation dazzles with wonderfully suspense-filled pianissimi. The Video Director Tiziano Mancini chorus of the Hebrew captives is so perfect that it is probably Length 132' impossible to find it sung anywhere else more beautifully than in Verona. [...] As so often in the Arena, the chorus presents
itself as protagonist and perfectly homogeneous ensemble A production of Unitel in this acoustically delicate theater. But with Leo Nucci as and Fondazione Arena di Verona an aging Nabucco reminiscent of Lear, Fabio Sartori as his in co-production with Bayerischer Rundfunk antagonist Ismaele and Maria Guleghina as a power-hungry and Classica Abigaille, the stage was dominated by three brilliantly dis- in co-operation with IME International Music Events posed soloists who rousingly did justice to the drama of their shot in HDTV 1080 characters, who are struggling for power and love.“ (Süddeut- Cat. no. A00008685 sche Zeitung, 26 June 2007)
WORLD SALES: C Major Entertainment · Elmar Kruse & Nadja Joost All rights reserved · credits not contractual · Different territories +49-(0)3030306464 · [email protected] Photos: © Tabocchini/Gironella by courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona