Nabucco

opera by Verdi

Also known as: “Nabucodonoser”

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July 1, 2026

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The opera Nabucco (commonly called Nabucodonoser) was composed by Giuseppe Verdi and premiered in 1842. It is one of Verdi's earlier works, falling into the period from Oberto (1839) to La traviata (1853). Operas from this period often relate stories of personal tragedy. Verdi's operas, including Nabucco, are among the most frequently performed works internationally and are revered by the public. He is also known for later operas such as Rigoletto, Il trovatore, and La traviata, as well as his Requiem Mass.12

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Nebuchadnezzar II
…basis of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Nabucco, while his supposed madness is the theme of William Blake’s picture “Nebuchadnezzar.”
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…basis of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Nabucco, while his supposed madness is the theme of William Blake’s picture “Nebuchadnezzar.”
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Giuseppe Verdi
Early career
…first performed 1842; known as Nabucco), based on the biblical Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadrezzar II), though the well-known story he told later about snapping out of his lethargy only when the libretto fell open at the chorus “Va, pensiero”—by that time one of his most beloved works—is no longer credited. (The older…
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…first performed 1842; known as Nabucco), based on the biblical Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadrezzar II), though the well-known story he told later about snapping out of his lethargy only when the libretto fell open at the chorus “Va, pensiero”—by that time one of his most beloved works—is no longer credited. (The older…
Read More