Description
Verdi: Nabucco
A new production of Verdi’s Nabucco at the Arena di Verona, and probably the most exciting lyrical event of the summer 2017.
Verdi’s third opera – but first great popular success – was created at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1842, in the epicentre of the “Risorgimento” and the capital of Italian nationalism, at a time where the supporters of Italian independance from Austrian occupation were starting to make their voices heard. The « Chorus of the Hebrew slaves », pivotal point in the third act where the Jews, exiled from Babylone by Nabuchodonosor, mourn their country, « so beautiful and lost », immediately resonated with the Italian nationalists and has ever since been a symbol of Italian national identity.
Boldly transposing the action out of biblical times and into Italian Risorgimento, French director Arnaud Bernard goes as far as to center the entire opera during the popular uprisings of 1848 and in the insides of the Milanese opera house. A clever way to emphasize on the legends that have been building around Verdi’s operas and the role they played in the political process of uniting the Italian peninsula, and in the construction of an authentic italianità.
Soprano Susanna Branchini literally steals the stage as Nabuchodonosor’s daughter Abigaille (for whom Verdi probably wrote his most challenging score), while Israeli-born conductor Daniel Oren, a true connoisseur of Verdi’s musical language as well as a regular guest at the Arena di Verona, conducts with great panache this « lyrical epic » that holds such a special place in the heart of all Italians.
Verdi : Nabucco [DVD & Blu-ray]
Dramma lirico in four acts (1842)
Music: Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto : Temistocle Solera
Nabucco : George Gagnidze
Ismaele : Rubens Pelizzari
Zaccaria : Rafał Siwek
Abigaille : Susanna Branchini
Fenena : Nino Surguladze
Priest of Belo : Nicolò Ceriani
Abdallo : Paolo Antognetti
Anna : Elena Borin
Arena di Verona Orchestra and Chorus
Conductor : Daniel Oren
Stage direction and costumes : Arnaud Bernard
Sets : Alessandro Camera
Lighting design : Paolo Mazzon
Technical director : Giuseppe De Filippi Venezia
Chorus master : Vito Lombardi
‘‘a theatricality measured but always efficient (which is something absolutely necessary in regards to the tradition and the space of the Arena) and a worthy musical experience that, once you forget the great stars that once made a mandatory appearance in Verona (but nowadays who are the stars and which are theaters that can afford it ?), has secured a high level to this edition’’ – DELTEATRO.IT
‘‘una spettacolarità misurata ma pur sempre d’effetto (cosa che per la tradizione e gli spazi areniani è quasi un requisito imprescindibile) e […] un’esecuzione musicale dignitosa, che, dimenticate le grandi star che un tempo facevano tappa obbligata a Verona (ma ormai quali sono le star e quali i teatri italiani che se le possono permettere?), ha assicurato un livello apprezzabile a questa edizione.’’
‘The Israeli conductor has always loved Nabucco and it shows; his conducting is intense and passionate, but considerate of the voices and always attentive to what happens on stage.’’ – OPERACLICK.COM
‘‘Il direttore israeliano ama da sempre Nabucco e si sente; una direzione intensa e passionale la sua, mai prevaricante delle voci e sempre con grande attenzione a tutto ciò che avviene sul palcoscenico.’’’
HD recording : Arena di Verona | 08/2017
TV direction : Andy Sommer
Release date : 22 June 2018
Distribution : Naxos Distribution
1 DVD [DIGIPACK]
Reference : BAC148
Barcode : 3760115301481
Running time : 132 min.
Booklet : FR / ENG / ITA / GER
Subtitles : FR / ENG / ITA / GER / SPA / JAP / KOR
Image : Color, 16/9, NTSC
Sound : PCM 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Region code : 0
1 BLU-RAY [DIGIPACK]
Reference : BAC448
Barcode : 3760115304482
Running time : 132 min.
Booklet : FR / ENG / ITA / GER
Subtitles : FR / ENG / ITA / GER / SPA / JAP / KOR
Image : Color, 16/9, Full HD
Sound : PCM 2.0, DTS HD Master audio 5.1
Region code : A, B, C
