Nabucco

More about the book

With his third opera "Nabucco," Verdi achieved his first major stage success, despite having considered giving up composing. The "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves," "Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate," is well-known among opera lovers and exemplifies how Verdi created some of his most expressive melodies when he felt compassion for the oppressed or humiliated. This book includes the Italian libretto and a common German translation, along with introductory comments that explore the musical and dramatic elements of the opera, highlighting its compositional structure and thematic connections. A brief summary of the plot and an overview of the opera's creation place the work within the broader context of the composer's oeuvre and biography, providing a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction.