L’Opéra de Montréal opens their season with Verdi’s Nabucco The Montrealer August 25, 2014 5355 L’Opera de Montreal opens its 35th season with Nabucco, an early work by Verdi that established his reputation as a composer. After his initial success with his first opera Oberto, Verdi was commissioned to write three more operas for La Scala in Milan. However, the second work was a failure; perhaps because it was composed while he was distracted by is his wife’s illness and death. Only after several entreaties from La Scala’s impresario Bartolemeo Merelli did Verdi agree to write Nabucco, the four part opera, based on biblical stories from the Books of Jeremiah and Daniel about the persecution and exile of the Jews from Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar II. After its completion in the fall of 1841, the opening performances in March 1842 were a reviewed as a “colossal success”. As the season was coming to an end, there were only eight initial performances. But, when the new season opened on August 13, 1842, an additional 60 performances had to be added before the end of that year. Verdi is quoted as saying; “This is the opera with which my artistic career really begins. And though I had many difficulties to fight against, it is certain that Nabucco was born under a lucky star.” The story: A war is being waged, and Nabucco, King of Babylon, seeks revenge against the Hebrews, who have taken his daughter, Fenena, hostage. His other daughter, the ambitious Abigaille, is thirsting for power. Betrayal and madness await them… The accolades for Nabucco were partly based on the opera’s rousing arias and spectacular choruses. Nabucco has been an enduring favourite from its first performances; and continues to be a program regular on opera houses throughout Europe and North America. It has been on the Metropolitan Opera’s roster since it was first presented there during the 1960/61 season. It is the only early Verdi opera (apart from Ernani and Luisa Miller) which has received regular performances at The Met in recent times, having been presented in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. This September’s co-production with the Washington National Opera, Minnesota Opera and Opera Philadelphia is a new production directed by Thaddeus Strassberger that has already won acclaim for its initial U.S. performances. Cast: Nabucco Elchin Azizov, Abigaille Tatiana Melnychenko, Zaccaria Ievgen Orlov, Fenena Olesya Petrova, Ismaele Antoine Bélanger. The Conductor is Francesco Maria Colombo; and the Stage Director is Thaddeus Strassberger, re-staged by Leigh Holman. Sets are by Thaddeus Strassberger; and costumes Mattie Ullrich. Lighting is by Mark McCullough Performed by Opéra de Montréal Chorus and the Orchestre Métropolitain. Nabucco is a co-production with the Washington National Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Philadelphia. Performance dates are: September 20,23,25,27, 2014. Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at 7:30 pm The 2014-15 Season Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts (PDA) VERDI – Nabucco, September 20, 23, 25, 27, 2014 at 7:30 pm ROSSINI – The Barber of Seville, November 8, 11, 13, 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm SAINT-SAËNS – Samson and Delilah, January 24, 27, 29, 31, 2015 at 7:30 pm PUTS – Silent Night, May 16, 19, 21, 23, 2015 at 7:30 pm Maison symphonique de Montréal The Opera de Montreal annual fundraiser Le Gala (this year is the 19th edition) is on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 2 pm Tickets Subscriptions to 4 operas are available only at the Opéra de Montréal box office: 514-985-2258 or 1-877-385-2222. Subscriptions start at $166, on sale until November 15, 2014. There is a lot of information on the company’s web site: www.operademontreal.com Single tickets are available through the Place des Arts Box Office. 514-842-2112 or www.laplacedesarts.com Subscriptions for those 30 and under – TD Takes You to the Opera The Opéra de Montréal is continuing its collaboration with TD Bank, offering subscriptions for those aged 30 and under: get 50% off single tickets in any category. Subscriptions available starting August 5, at the Opéra de Montréal box office.
