Nabucco
The Babylonian king who defies God, the Hebrew people in chains, and the chorus that made a nation weep
Nabucco conquers Jerusalem and destroys the Temple of Solomon. The Hebrews are deported to Babylon. Abigaille, having discovered her own servile origins, seizes power from her father — who, having blasphemously proclaimed himself a god, has been struck with madness. Nabucco wanders his palace like a shadow of his former self.
The Hebrew prisoners on the banks of the Euphrates sing of their longing for Jerusalem. This is the moment of 'Va, pensiero'. Abigaille rules with an iron fist and condemns the Hebrews to death, including the converted Fenena. Nabucco, still in the grip of madness, is powerless.
Nabucco comes to his senses invoking the God of the Hebrews. He bursts into the arena where Fenena is about to be executed and saves her. Abigaille, poisoned by remorse, takes her own life. Nabucco frees the Hebrew people and orders the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Nabucco is the opera that transformed Verdi from a promising composer into the voice of a people. 'Va, pensiero' spoke not only of biblical Hebrews: it spoke of Italians under foreign occupation. Even today, at opening nights of Nabucco at La Scala, the audience often sings along with the chorus.