“The set emphasised the opera’s monumentality. The structure depicting a tower and gate worked well” — Kulttuuritoimitus (translated from Finnish), Jukka Kallio
“The basic element of the set created by the takis collective is a temple made of plastic bottles, its frame lit with LED strips, which glitters in the lights and at decisive moments turns into a view of captive nature – the Hanging Gardens of Babylon may also come to mind” — Rondo (translated from Finnish), Harri Kuusisaari
Babylonian king Nabucco invades and robs the Jewish population, subjecting them to slavery and forced labour. Power intoxicates and deludes him. It makes the king play god. Meanwhile, the bitter Abigaille, one of the strongest female roles in the operatic repertoire, awaits her own moment of revenge and plots against the young lovers Ismaele and Fenena.
Even though the story of Nabucco is historic and has its roots in the bible, it is still modern. Director Rodula Gaitanou and designer takis depict the story with freshness, while preserving its epic scale and adding in climate change as one of today’s greatest challenges for humankind, which fits seamlessly into Verdi’s opera.
With its grand choir scenes including opera’s undoubtedly most famous choir “Va, pensiero”, the monumental stage design and the heart-wrenching fate of the opera’s protagonists, Nabucco returns to Olavinlinna after it’s celebrated and highly acclaimed premiere in 2024 with world-class soprano Marigona Qerkezi as Abigaille.
Press
“Das Bühnenbild zeigt eine Pyramide, bestehend aus vielleicht Tausenden von Recyling-Pet-Flaschen und einem künstlichen Baum (der je nach Beleuchtung die intakte, göttliche oder vom Menschen zerstörte Natur zu verkörpern hat).” — Dr. Charles E. Ritterband, Klassik begeistert, 27 July 2024 (2024 premiere)
Translation: The set shows a pyramid made up of perhaps thousands of recycled PET bottles and an artificial tree (which, depending on the lighting, has to embody intact, divine nature or nature destroyed by man).
Production page: Savonlinna Opera Festival · Reviews: Kulttuuritoimitus, Rondo