Baltimore Opera Company

Study Guide

Nabucco

The Story

ACT I – Jerusalem

The Hebrews and the Levites are gathered together in the Temple of Solomon (“Gli'arredi festivi giù cadano infranti”). They are lamenting the fate of the Israelites, who have just been defeated by the Babylonian king Nabucco, who is about to enter the city at the head of his victorious army. The high priest Zaccaria encourages his followers not to abandon hope (“Sperate, o figli!”), as they are holding a valuable hostage, Fenena, Nabucco's daughter. Fenena is entrusted to the custody of Ismaele, nephew of the King of Jerusalem. Ismaele, however, is in love with Fenena, who had freed him, at great risk, when he was held prisoner in Babylon , and he now intends to return the favor. The two are planning to run away together when Abigaille, whom everyone believes to be Nabucco's first-born daughter enters the temple, carrying a sword in her hand, at the head of a band of Babylonian soldiers who are disguised as Hebrews. Abigaille declares her love to Ismaele (“Io t'amava!”) and offers freedom to all the Hebrews in return for his love. Ismaele refuses to be blackmailed. In the meantime, a crowd of Hebrews, who are being hunted down by Nabucco's soldiers, seek refuge in the temple. Then the king himself appears on the threshold. Zaccaria threatens to kill Fenena if Nabucco and his people dare violate the sacred place. He raises his dagger to Fenena, but Ismaele intervenes and saves her from death. Zaccaria condemns Ismaele for being a traitor. Nabucco, embracing his daughter, orders that the temple be put to fire and sword.

ACT II- The Sacrilege

Scene I

Abigaille, in her apartments of the Royal Palace in Babylon , learns from a secret document that she is not Nabucco's first-born but some slave's daughter (“Ben io t'invenni, o fatal scritto!”). She is disturbed, but perseveres in her plans to wreak vengeance on Fenena, to whom Nabucco has entrusted the throne during his absence fighting the Hebrews. Supported by the High Priest of Baal, she contemplates having her rival murdered, taking over the throne and spreading the news that Nabucco is dead (“Salgo già del trono aurato”).

Scene II

In another wing of the Royal Palace in Babylon Zaccaria, together with his people, is going to Fenena's apartments to convince her to convert to the Jewish faith (“Tu sul labbro”). A chorus of Levites is heard cursing Ismaele for having saved Fenena; he is seen as a traitor by everyone. Zaccaria orders the Levites to stop insulting Ismaele, that he is not a traitor since he saved a converted woman from death. Abigaille is about to carry out her plan when Nabucco unexpectedly returns. He grasps the crown and declares himself sole king and God of a people who must adore him for eternity (“Giù! prostrati! non son piu re, son Dio!”). At these blasphemous words a thunderbolt of lightening strikes beside the terrorized King, and he feels the crown being snatched from his head by a supernatural force. Abigaille takes advantage of the confusion to pick up the fallen crown and swears that the splendor of the people of Baal shall never be extinguished.

ACT III - The Prophecy

Scene I

The Hanging Gardens in the Royal Palace in Babylon . Abigaille, who has proclaimed herself queen, is seated on the throne to receive the homage of the nobles of the kingdom in the presence of the High Priest. Suddenly Nabucco appears (“Donna, chi sei?”) in shabby clothes behaving in a deranged way. Abigaille tricks him into giving the royal seal to ratify the death sentence on all the Hebrew prisoners, including the converted Fenena. Nabucco, realizing the trick too late, protests and orders Abigaille to prostrate herself before him, threatening to reveal the details of her birth. He looks for the birth certificate but the scornful Abigaille shows it to him and then tears it to pieces. She consigns the old king to the guards to be imprisoned. Nabucco, in despair, promises Abigaille that he will abdicate the throne in her favor if she grants pardon to Fenena (“Deh perdona ad un padre che delira!”), but the haughty Abigaille refuses.


Scene II

On the banks of the Euphrates , the Hebrews, condemned to hard work, lament their beautiful and distant fatherland (“Va pensiero”) and call on the Lord for help. Zaccaria encourages them with the solemn prophecy that wrathful vengeance is going to descend on Babylon .

ACT IV - The Broken Idol

Scene I

In the royal palace of Babylon , Nabucco, waking from a heavy sleep full of nightmares, hears Fenena's name from the street. He runs to the balcony and backs away in terror and desperation on seeing his daughter bound in chains and escorted by soldiers, while all around her echo the cries calling for her death. In vain he tries to leave the palace, only to find himself a prisoner. Then he kneels down in prayer to implore mercy from the God of the Hebrews (“Dio di Giuda!”). The doors immediately open and a band of faithful guards enter. He is no longer a poor madman, for they recognize him as the rightful King. With acclamations, they unsheathe their swords and follow him to reclaim his crown and free Fenena.

Scene II

Fenena has been led with other Hebrews to the sacrificial altar, dominated by a huge statue of Baal, and she prays for God's blessing on her martyrdom (“Oh dischiuso è il firmamento!”). The High Priest is about to carry out the sacrificial ceremony when Nabucco enters with his followers ordering the destruction of the idol; however, even before being touched, the statue falls to the ground and shatters into pieces. The Jews are liberated and Nabucco exhorts his people to bow before the great God of the Jews (“Ah, torna Israello alle gioie del patrio suol!”). Abigaille, defeated in every way, poisons herself and goes with two of her followers to where the slaughter should have been carried out. Before dying, she asks for her sister's forgiveness and puts the two lovers, Ismaele and Fenena under Nabucco's protection so that the King may allow their marriage and give them his blessing. She dies invoking the God of the Jews.

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