Royal Opera House; Verdi's biblical epic, "Nabucco"­­, Amphitheatre

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One of the highlights of the summer season at the Royal Opera House this year is this powerhouse production of Verdi's wonderful Nabucco.

Join us for a Saturday evening performance of the opera which permanently established Verdi's reputation as a composer.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/3/c/c/1/600_447975553.jpeg Daniele Abbado’s production explores the reality of conflict, where friend and enemy may become indistinguishable.

An enormous chorus lends weight to grandiose numbers such as the Hebrew Slaves’ triumphant hymn of thanksgiving and their song of exile, ‘Va, pensiero’, widely considered to be Italy’s unofficial national anthem.

MEETING

Message from Antony, group organiser (07765 263601):

Collect your ticket from me on the day from 6.15pm. Meet on Bow Street, outside the entrance as on the photo below - meeting point marked M. I will be wearing a black cap.

Arrive by 6.50pm at the latest. Note the Bow Street entrance is the only one available, there is no access via Covent Garden market square.

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SEATING

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The classic operas at the ROH are the most expensive, with average prices in the amphitheatre well over £50.

Benefits of attending with us include the best value amphitheatre seats selected before they go on general sale. This means seats alongside others costing far more.

With unrestricted views, we will be sat around halfway up the amphitheatre (all row L or closer). The seats are to the side or more central.

The performance will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Starts: 7pm.

Running time: 2 hrs 50 mins, including one interval

NOTE: We have restricted view seats also (click here (https://www.meetup.com/Lets-Do-London/events/229714938/)).

PRICE

Ticket value: £47

Cost to join this event: £38.50

This includes 25% off the ticket price and a meetup fee to cover paypal/admin.

31 places only

If all places fill for this event, a bonus discount of ten percent will be shared as a bar kitty after the performance.

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BACKGROUND

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Following the spectacular failure of his early operas, Giuseppe Verdi vowed never to compose another. But he was lured back to the theatre by Bartolomeo Merelli, the impresario of La Scala, with the commission for Nabucco.

The resulting opera was a triumph – first performed in 1842, it was revived the same year with a run of 57 shows. As Verdi wrote: ‘with this opera, it can truly be said that my artistic career began.’

STORY:

Nabucco, King of Babylon, takes Jerusalem in his war with the Israelites.

But his daughter Fenena loves the Israelite Ismaele. She releases their prisoners, leading her vengeful half-sister Abigaille to plot to take power.

Historical events are used as background for a romantic and political plot. The best-known number from the opera is the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves", "Fly, thought, on golden wings", a chorus which is regularly given an encore in many opera houses when performed today.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

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The Royal Opera, under the direction of Antonio Pappano, is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in the iconic Covent Garden theatre, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today’s leading opera composers, such as Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Thomas Adès.

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Some of the world's most famous singers have performed with the Company, including Plácido Domingo, Angela Gheorghiu, Anna Netrebko, Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Jonas Kaufmann, Rolando Villazón and Juan Diego Flórez, as well as the late Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland.

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