Melodrama in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
After Victor Hugo’s play «Le Roi s’amuse»

EPSG:4326

Rigoletto

Opernhaus Zürich

It was his first great success, in a sense, his breakthrough: Nabucco. Premiered at Milan’s Scala in the spring of 1842, this work marks the start of the brilliant career of Giuseppe Verdi, who would become the leading Italian opera composer, going virtually unrivalled for decades. Set in biblical times in Jerusalem and Babylon, Nabucco deals with the fates of two peoples and cultures, but also the arrogance of the protagonist, who with an inflated sense of self-importance declares himself a god, only then to descend into madness. Tableaux with ceremonial gestures and poignant music, such as the famous chorus “Va pensiero” sung by the imprisoned Hebrews, are combined with scenes of intense expression, filled with drama and passion.

Elena Maximova

Events

Upcoming events

May 23, 2026

Nabucco · Staatsoper Berlin

Past events

Apr 26 - May 15, 2025

Rigoletto · Opernhaus Zürich

Future and recently performed repertoire

Fenena in Nabucco by Verdi

Staatsoper Berlin

About

Elena Maximova hasn't added a bio