Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
One of the young composer's most monumental operas, based on a biblical story, transports the audience to Jerusalem of the year 587 BC and tells the story of the Babylonian king-conqueror who, through sin and suffering, came to the true faith. The epic tale of divine providence, political treachery, and tragic love also revolve around the grandiose portrayal of captive Jewish people, their tribulations, rage, and hope for liberation.
The magnificent choral episodes of Nabucco, which celebrate the theme of freedom, turned Verdi into a national hero. The famous "Va, pensiero" chorus, mournful and powerful, became an unofficial national anthem, and in 1901 it was performed at the composer's funeral ceremony by nine hundred singers, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. Thousands of people accompanied the great Giuseppe Verdi on his final journey.
The Italian composer himself regarded this work as the commencement of his artistic ascent, for it was after Nabucco that he achieved widespread recognition. The world premiere of this celebrated creation took place at the renowned Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1842, when Verdi was only 28 years of age. The composer's contemporaries recalled the atmosphere at La Scala during rehearsals: theatre workers and staff would cease their duties to gather near and behind the stage, avidly listening to each word and beat, eagerly discussing every completed fragment. Grandiose mass scenes, character conflicts, and vivid emotional scenes of prayers, prophecies, and curses – Verdi's genius shone most brilliantly in Nabucco. This piece continues to be relevant and undoubtedly inspiring to this day.
On 21 March, Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco returns to the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus.
The opera was first performed at the Belarusian theatre in 1999. The semi-staged production was created by musical director and conductor Alexander Anissimov, director Francesco Privitera, designer Eleonora Grigoruk, and chorus master Nina Lomanovich. The leading roles at that time were performed by Yuri Bastrikov, Nikolai Moiseenko, Arkady Savchenko, Tamara Glagoleva, Oleg Gordynets, Vasily Kovalchuk, Oleg Melnikov, Eduard Pelageichenko, Natalia Rudneva, Nagima Galeeva, and others.
In 2010, a new production of Verdi's opera was staged by musical director Viktor Ploskina, director Mikhail Pandzhavidze, designers Alexander Kostiuchenko and Ekaterina Bulgakova (costumes), and chorus master Nina Lomanovich. The cast included Vladimir Gromov, Stanislav Trifonov, Ekaterina Golovleva, Tatiana Tretiak, Nina Scharubina, Andrei Valentii, Dmitry Kapilov, Sergey Frankovsky, Oksana Volkova, Elena Salo, Oksana Yakushevich, Alexander Keda, etc.
This opera was last performed at the theatre in 2016: the performance was dedicated to Nina Scharubina's anniversary. In 2021, a semi-staged version, directed by Galina Galkovskaya, opened the Evenings of the Bolshoi Theatre at the Radziwill Castle.
In March, the Minsk premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco will be presented by an international team: People's Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Artem Makarov (musical director), renowned Italian maestro Giancarlo del Monaco (director and designer), People's Artist of Belarus Nina Lomanovich (chorus master).
Giancarlo del Monaco, son of the great tenor of the 20th century Mario del Monaco, has directed more than a hundred opera productions in major theatres worldwide over the course of his long career. His recent productions include, among others, Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia in 2024 and Aida at the Mariinsky Theatre in 2025, with the Belarusian tenor Dmitry Shabetya in the role of Radamès in the premiere performances.
The current cast includes Vladimir Gromov, Kirill Panfilov, Stanislav Trifonov, Ivan Biarezin, Taras Prysiazhniuk, Dmitry Shabetya, Andrei Valentii, Andrey Selutin, Maria Galkina, Marta Danusevich, Tatiana Petrova, Oksana Volkova, Daria Gorozhanko, Ekaterina Mikhnovets, Uladzislau Zazulka, Dmitry Kapilov, Anastasiya Lurykava, Klavdiya Potemkina, Nastassia Khrapitskaya, Alexander Gelakh, Victor Mendelev, and Iosif Nikitenko.
The premiere is scheduled for 21 March, with the second performance on 22 March.
