Dramma lirico in four parts
Libretto by Temistocle Solera
after Cortesi's ballet Nabuccodonosor
and Anicel-Bourgeios' and Cornu's play Nabuchodonosor
English translation by Norman Tucker
and Tom Hammond
The Cast
Alan Opie, baritone - Nabucodonosor (Nabucco)
Leonardo Capalbo, tenor - Ismael
Alastair Miles, bass - Zachariah
Susan Patterson, soprano - Abigail
Jane Irwin, mezzo-soprano (PMF Scholar) - Fenena
Dean Robinson, bass (PMF Scholar) -
High Priest of Baal
Paul Wade, tenor - Abdullah
Camilla Roberts, soprano - Anna
Chorus of Opera North
Orchestra of Opera North
David Parry - conductor
Recorded in Leeds Town Hall,
19-22 September 2005 and 13, 14 & 16 July 2006
Producer - Brian Couzens,
Sound Engineer - Ralph Couzens
Assistant engineers - Michael Common, Jonathan Cooper and John Benton
Classic fm
'David Parry's conducting is a model of dramatic drive and vigour. And there's a superlative cast that includes... a brilliant Susan Patterson in the notoriously difficult but exciting role of the violent daughter Abigail... It doesn't get much better than this.'
'Any veteran like me who might be getting a bit supercilious about the merits of early Verdi will have those weary thoughts cast aside by this splendidly honest and virile recording. Opera in English is here fully justified by virtue of an excellent cast all-round who let us hear every word of the old, trusted translation by Norman Tucker and Tom Hammond, pioneers of giving works in the vernacular. But perhaps the most convincing reason for acquiring this set is the superb singing of the Opera North Chorus, who are in a sense this work's heroes...
Heading the cast is Alan Opie... (The King's) early wilfulness, followed by madness and then his conversion to Jehovah, are all depicted with an unerring feeling for every word of the text... As the one truly upright character, Zachariah, Alastair Miles proves his pre-eminence among British basses today in Verdi: every note of his two solos is sung with strength and a feeling for line, and he is as happy on high as below. Fenena is well served by Jane Irwin's lovely mezzo, shining forth...'
