George Gagnidze stars as King Nabucco in Met Opera: ‘Nabucco’ (Verdi)

Courtesy metopera.org

A classic Met staging featuring Baritone George Gagnidze as the imperious king Nabucco,

alongside soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska, reprising her thrilling turn as his vengeful daughter Abigaille.

Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.—RUTLAND—Ancient Babylon comes to life at the Paramount Theatre, 30 Center St., Rutland this Tuesday in this classic Met staging of. Baritone George Gagnidze stars as the imperious king Nabucco, alongside soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska, reprising her thrilling turn as his vengeful daughter Abigaille. Mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova and tenor SeokJong Baek are Fenena and Ismaele, whose love transcends politics, and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy repeats his celebrated portrayal of the high priest Zaccaria. Daniele Callegari conducts Verdi’s exhilarating early masterpiece, which features the ultimate showcase for the great Met Chorus, the moving “Va, pensiero.”

Gagnidze is a renowned baritone and a leading singers in his genre. He has received critical acclaim for his baritone voice and phrasing. Gagnidze made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 2008 as Rigoletto and has since returned for over 130 performances in various roles.

Composer, Giuseppe Verdi, had an extraordinary career in the theater that spanned over six decades. He is best known for his 26 operas, many of which are still performed today. Verdi’s contribution to Italy’s cultural and political development has elevated him to the status of an icon in his homeland. Temistocle Solera, a professional librettist and composer, played a crucial role in Verdi’s early works. He provided Verdi with the libretti for his first opera, Oberto, as well as subsequent operas like I Lombardi, Giovanna d’Arco, and Attila. Solera’s collaborations with Verdi helped shape the trajectory of the composer’s career and establish him as one of the most influential figures in opera history. 

Nabucco’s score is characterized by a combination of elements, creating a perfect backdrop for the individual and societal   facets of the drama. The chorus plays a significant role, expressing the emotions that evolve from terror to despair, faith, and ultimately bright hope. Unlike other operas that depict madness in a character, Abigaille’s music reflects her malicious persona rather than insanity. While the opera includes a brief mad scene for the title character, Verdi places more emphasis on Nabucco’s journey back to sanity in his poignant Act IV aria “Dio di Giuda.” The pinnacle of operatic prayer can be found in “Va, pensiero,” where the simplicity of the choral melody and unity of the vocal line perfectly capture the communal sentiment.

Tickets are  $20 + fees. Approximate run time is 3 hours, 5 minutes.