Nabucco

The opening of the famous prisoners' chorus from Verdi''s "Nabucco" forms the motto of this year's International May Festival. The desire for liberation from an imperialist state is at the centre of the opera. Nabucco, the megalomaniac ruler of Babylon, invades Jerusalem with his army, burns down the temple and takes many Hebrews captive. But, in the opera, he fails because of his own overconfidence and the resistance of the invaded nation.

Michael Güttler conducts the Hessian State Orchestra in this concert performance of Verdi's liberation opera. The star-studded cast includes Željko Lučić in the title role and Anna Netrebko making her role debut as Abigaille. The Hessian State Theatre opera chorus is joined by the chorus of Staatstheater Darmstadt.