54th MAY OPERA EVENINGS
Giuseppe Verdi
“NABUCCO”
May 31, 2026, 8:00 PM
Conductor: Yeruham Scharovsky (Argentina)
Director: Renato Bonajuto (Italy)
Set Designer: Flavio Arbetti (Italy)
Costume Designer: Artemio Cabassi (Italy)
Choreographer: Maja Mitrovska – Bogojevska
Assistant Conductor: Katerina Stojkovska
Assistant Directors: Teresa Gargano (Italy), Dejan Proshev
Concertmaster: Jane Bakevski
Chorus Master: Jasmina Gjorgeska
Lighting Design: Milcho Aleksandrov
Vocal Coach: Davide Dellisanti (Italy)
Accompanists: Elena Siljanoska, Janinka Nevcheva, Andreja Naunov, Anastasija Grgovska
Stage Managers: Dragan Kostadinović, Marko Pavlevski, Katerina Boshkovska
Prompter: Nevena Georgieva, Ivana Jordanovska
CAST:
NABUCCO: Alberto Gazale (Italy)
ABIGAILLE: Susanna Branchini (Italy)
FENENA: Nikolina Janevska
ISMAEL: Gjorgji Cuckovski
ZACCARIA: Hidenori Inoue (Japan)
HIGH PRIEST: Dime Petrov
ANNA: Ana Rojdeva
ABDALLO: Nikola Stojcheski
FEATURING: The Chorus and Orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet, the Female Ballet Ensemble, and students from the Ballet Department of DMBUC “Ilija Nikolovski – Luj.”
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
Jerusalem, inside the Temple of Solomon Jerusalem, 6th century BC. The Israelites pray for help against Nabucco, the King of Babylon, who has attacked and is vandalizing the city. Zaccaria, their High Priest, appears with Nabucco’s daughter, Fenena, whom the Hebrews are holding hostage. He assures his people that God will not abandon them. As the Israelites leave, Ismael, nephew of the King of Jerusalem, remains alone with Fenena. The two fell in love while Ismael was imprisoned in Babylon; Fenena helped him escape and followed him to Jerusalem. Their conversation is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Fenena’s half-sister, Abigaille, and a group of masked Babylonian soldiers. Abigaille, who is also in love with Ismael, tells him she can save his people if he returns her love, but he refuses. The Israelites rush back into the temple in a panic. When Nabucco enters with his army, Zaccaria confronts him, threatening to kill Fenena. Ismael disarms the priest and surrenders Fenena to her father. Nabucco orders the destruction of the Temple.
ACT II
“L’Empio,” Apartments in the Palace Nabucco appoints Fenena as regent while he is away at war. In the royal palace in Babylon, Abigaille discovers a document revealing she is not the King’s daughter, but the child of slaves. Foreseeing a future where Fenena and Ismael rule Babylon together, she vows revenge against Nabucco and Fenena. The High Priest of Baal arrives with news that Fenena has released the Israelite prisoners. In response to her betrayal, he offers the throne to Abigaille and suggests spreading a rumor that Nabucco has died in battle. Elsewhere in the palace, Zaccaria prays for inspiration to convince the Babylonians to renounce their false idols. Ismael enters and is accused of treason by the gathered Levites, but Zaccaria announces his pardon because he saved a fellow Israelite the newly converted Fenena. An officer rushes in to warn Fenena that the King is reportedly dead and her life is in danger. Before she can flee, the High Priest of Baal arrives with Abigaille and the Babylonians, who proclaim Abigaille the new ruler. She is about to crown herself when, to everyone’s shock, Nabucco appears. He seizes the crown from her, confronts the crowd, and declares himself not only their king but their god. For this blasphemy, he is struck by a bolt of lightning. A triumphant Abigaille claims the crown for herself.
ACT III
The Prophecy, The Hanging Gardens The Babylonians hail Abigaille as their ruler. The High Priest urges her to execute the Israelites, but before she can give the order, a disheveled Nabucco rushes in. He asks what will happen to Fenena, and Abigaille replies that she too must die. When Nabucco searches his robes for the document proving Abigaille’s true ancestry, she snatches it and tears it to pieces. He pleads in vain for Fenena’s life. On the banks of the Euphrates, the Israelites rest from forced labor, their thoughts turning to their homeland. Zaccaria predicts that they will overcome their captivity and destroy Babylon with God’s help.
ACT IV
The Broken Idol, Apartments in the Palace From a window in his apartment, where he is imprisoned by Abigaille, Nabucco watches Fenena and the Israelites being led to their execution. Desperate, he prays to the God of Israel for forgiveness, promising to convert himself and his people. His sanity is restored; he forces the door open and calls upon his soldiers to reclaim the throne and save his daughter. The execution of the Israelites is imminent. Fenena prays to be received into heaven just as Nabucco rushes in and halts the sacrifice. Abigaille, filled with remorse, takes poison and dies, confessing her crimes and praying for God’s forgiveness. Nabucco announces his conversion and sets the Israelites free, telling them to return to their native land and rebuild their Temple. The Israelites and Babylonians are united in the praise of God.