Nabucco by Verdi, Ó (2023/2023), Faoi stiúir Jacopo Spirei,, Seoltóir Giancarlo Andretta, GöteborgsOperan, Gothenburg, Sweden

With its hit tune ”Va pensiero” (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) – Nabucco is a tale of violence, oppression, reconciliation and the longing for freedom. King Nabucco is fighting a war. He has two daughters: Abigaille, who vindictively plots to seize power, and Fenena, who loves a man from the enemy side. It is hard to decide who is good and bad in this story. Those with nothing left to lose can adopt extreme methods for the survival of their country, faith or love. An all-Italian team headed by director Jacopo Spirei sets the biblical story in a contemporary context with a desperate populace protesting against an oppressive government. Fear and hope switch sides as one fundamentalist regime is superseded by another. Italian conductor Giancarlo Andretta returns to the Göteborg Opera to conduct Verdi’s fiery breakthrough opera. Its powerful music ranges from ravishing arias to majestic choruses. The Göteborg Opera’s baritone Mats Persson performs Nabucco, whose perceptions of himself and society change as the plot develops. The chorus plays a key role in the opera as the supporters of the opposing sides.