【Nabucco 】Synopsis, Character Map

All
Let the sacraments of the feast fall and be broken. The people of Judah are in mourning. The king of Assyria has already attacked us.

Gli arredi festivi giù cadano infranti

Levites
Take off your veils, maidens. Lift your arms and pray. May the fury of the fierce enemy be appeased.

Women
O great God, who flies on the wings of the wind. Let the lightning fall from the trembling clouds you send forth to disperse and destroy the Assyrian army.

We must have hope.
(Pointing to Fenena) The daughter of the enemy king will bring us peace.

All
The sun of happiness may rise again for us.

We must suppress our fears.

On the shores of Egypt, God gave Moses his life. Gideon’s army of a hundred men was never conquered. In the extreme situation, who would have died believing in God?

D’Egitto là sui lidi

All
What’s that noise?

Ismaele
The king of Assyria has attacked us.

God will put an end to the audacity of the enemy. I entrust this woman to you in trust.

Like the night when the sun shines, like the dust that dances in the wind, you will disappear in the great tribulation. O false Bel God.

Mighty God of Abraham, come down to fight with us. Breathe on your servant and bring death to the stranger.

Come notte a sol fulgente

Ismaele
Poor woman, now you shine more beautiful in my eyes. You escaped from your jealous and cruel sister and came to me for love.

Misera!

Fenena
But now I am a slave.

Ismaele
I want to pave the way for you to be free.

Fenena
You are about to break a sacred duty.

Ismaele
Please come. You’ve already broken your duty for me, haven’t you? My heart will open a thousand ways for you.

The temple is occupied!

Ismaele and Fenena
Abigaile!

(Chuckling at the two of them) Brave warrior, do you only know the weapons of love?

(To Fenena) I can’t believe you have the fire of impiety in you.

(To both) What god would save you? The lightning of my vengeance will strike.

(Takes Ismaele’s hand) I have loved you. I would have given my country and my heart to you. If you love me, you can save your people even now.

Io t’amava!

Ismaele
I can give my life to you. But I will not give you my heart. I am satisfied with my fate. The tears that I shed for my people will speak to you.

Fenena
O true God of Israel, I have already called upon you and heard your voice. May my prayers move you.

The Hebrew women
Did you see him (Nabucco)? See him wading through the crowd?

Lo vedeste?

An old Hebrew
He comes with a bloody weapon in his hand.

Women, Levites, the elderly
Happy are those who have died before this day.

Hebrew Soldiers
Behold, Nabucco, the king of the enemy, is riding on horseback toward the temple. Like a black whirlwind, he is leaving ruins everywhere.

What a bold man Nabucco is.

All
What a misfortune. Who will protect this temple?

All hail Nabucco!

Viva Nabucco!

(To Ismaele) Who lets this evil one through?

Ismaele
(Pointing to a Babylonian soldier in disguise) It’s a fake outfit.

We’ll even wear a disguise to invade the enemy. Pride is trivial. Now, King Nabucco is marching in.

(To Nabucco) What are you doing? This is God’s room.

What are you talking about?

(Thrusting the dagger at Fenena) Before you defile the temple, my daughter will die from this dagger.

The more strongly my anger will explode.

Fenena
Father, have compassion for people in your heart. Have compassion for the unfortunate.

A new hope shines. The only woman to contend with me may become a vengeful sacrifice.

Losers, bow your heads. I am the victor. I have often called upon my God on the battlefield. But has your god come? Your God is afraid of me. There’s nothing a fool can do.

(Thrusting the dagger at Fenena) This woman is a sacrifice. Are you bloodthirsty? Then I will spill your daughter’s blood!

Ismaele
(To Fenena) Love will save you.

My wrath shall no longer be restrained. Let those who are vanquished be destroyed atrociously. Plunder them and burn their temples. Pity is a sin.

Tremin gl’insani del mio furore!

The cursed people will be gone from this world. But will the love that wages war against me just disappear?

Ismaele and Fenena
The love that made you sad and ardent has veiled your eyes. The love that burned you will cover me with shame.

Zaccaria and the People
The people will reject you. Nabucco will become a name to fear, an abomination of all times.

Looting!

I’m glad I was able to find you. The Book of Destiny. The king hid it from me to bring me dishonor. I am the daughter of a slave.

Okay, the Assyrians believe I’m the daughter of Nabucco. Why am I here? I’m worse than a slave. The king has entrusted the throne to Fenena.

He’ll see my wrath. Fenena, the false father, wants to bring down the kingdom. I want to ruin myself. Deadly rage.

I used to be open to joy. I used to listen to the holy love of those around me. I wept for the tears of others and accepted their sorrow. Who will give me back that lost feeling?

Anch’io dischiuso un giorno

High priest of Bel
A horrible sight has met my eyes. Fenena is blaspheming our God. She is trying to liberate the Jews. Who can restrain the accursed mob? Power awaits you.

Orrenda scena

How?

High priest of Bel
Everything is ready to go. I have already spread the rumors. How the king fell in the war. People are calling for the queen to protect the land of Assyria. If you take the first step, your destiny is yours. Have courage!

I will be with you.

Now I sit on a golden throne. On a throne covered in blood. My vengeance will be well known. The daughters of the royal family will come to me as humble slaves begging.

Salgo già del trono aurato

Come, Levites. Bring me the Sacred Code. God wants me to serve him. Cut through the darkness of the heathen for the glory of Israel.

You have struck the prophet’s mouth with a bolt of lightning, O Most High God. Speak through my mouth to Assyria in a strong tone.

Vieni, o Levita

Levites
What do you want? Who is calling us?

Che si vuol?

Ismaele
Brother, it is Zachariah’s wish.

Levites
You are cursed by God. The damned has no brothers. There is no one to speak to you. Every harsh voice of lamentation rides the wind and carries it to your ears.

Ismaele
For the love of the living God, please stop. I’m going crazy with fear.

Zaccaria’s sister
Brother, forgive him. He saved the Hebrews.

It’s the truth.

Fenena
But what a tumult rises!

Zaccaria, Ismaele, Levites
Aah! Oh, God! What a surprise.

Abdallo
You are a royal lady, Fenena. You must flee. An ominous cry heralds the death of King Nabucco. The people want Abigaille. They accuse you of having abandoned your faith in the god Bel.

Fenena
I can’t stay here. I must go among the impious rebels.

Zaccaria, Ismaele, Levites, Abdallo
Please stop.

High priest of Bel
Glory to Abigaille.

Give me the crown.

Fenena
I’ll die before that.

You can take it from my head.

All
The moment of deadly fury is approaching. Fear is already raining down on all the silent faces.

S’appressan gl’istanti d’un’ira fatale

Listen to me! Babylonians. I will bring your god down to earth. Foolish Hebrews. Your god has been overthrown. There is only one God, and I am the God.

Non son più re, son dio

You are an insane man. The gods have grabbed you by the hair. Your throne has already been taken.

Take the old man with you. You can die with your people.

Fenena
I will die with the Hebrews. I am Hebrew.

You’re lying. Bow down. I’m not a king, I’m a god.

All
God has struck down the irreverent.

Who is grabbing my hair? My daughter, will you not help me?

God punished him.

But the glory of the people of Bell will never be extinguished.

People
The Queen of Assyria has power equal to that of the god Bel. If a foreigner calls her to war, she will bring destruction to all places.

È l’Assiria una regina

High priest of Bel
A noblewoman, the one who holds the fate of Assyria in her hands. Pray for us. Pray that all the impious Hebrews will be destroyed. First, curse that woman. Curse the woman who cannot be called your sister. Fenena has betrayed the god Bel.

Eccelsa donna

What do you want from me?

Who brought him here? Put him back in his room.

Who is the infidel speaking in front of Nabucco? This is the council chamber. They’re waiting for me. Let me go. I’m weak, but I can walk.

Who is she? How daring.

I need you to leave this place for a moment. Those who are loyal to me.

Woman, who are you?

Donna, chi sei?

I was sitting on the throne as your guardian.

You, on my throne? You’re a fraud.

You have been lying sick. The people are screaming at the Hebrew thief. Put the royal coat of arms on this document. May death come to the wicked.

I have a concern.

Will you be rejected? Lucky Hebrews. Praise be to your God. There is no longer any Nabucco.

It’s a lie! Give death to all the Hebrews.

A happy fate. I took the last step.

But what about Fenena?

Fenena offered herself to a false god.

Fenena is my blood relative.

No one will be able to save her. There is another daughter of yours.

Bow down, slave.

Foolish. I’ve been waiting for that word. Slave? I’m a slave?

Know the truth.

You’re pathetic. This is how I shall return the false document to you.

How much humiliation has fallen on my gray hair? I am a shadow of a king.

The throne is worth more to me than my lost father.

It is the sound of death to execute the Hebrews that you ordered.

Guards, come on. I’ve been betrayed.

You fool, you still want to fight? These guards are the ones I left behind to hold you, prisoner.

Forgive me for being a foolish father. I want my daughter back.

Get out. It is useless for you to seek peace from me. You’ll see if this slave daughter is worthy of a royal cloak.

Hebrews
Fly, thought, on golden wings. My homeland, so beautiful and lost. Memories are precious and dead. O golden lyre, why are you silent? Call forth the memories, sound the sound of lament. Play the tune that gives virtue to suffering.

Va’ pensiero, sull’ali dorate

Who’s crying? Arise, my afflicted brother. From my lips, the Lord speaks. I know the future is in the dark. I know that worthless chains will be broken.

Oh chi piange?

Hebrews
What flame is burning in you? To his lips, the Lord speaks. Unworthy chains shall be broken.

I have arms and legs. It was a terrible dream where I was being chased.

(Voice from outside the room) Fenena!

My daughter’s name is echoing. (Looking out of the room) My daughter is chained up and crying.

(Voice from outside the room) Death to Fenena!

Forgive me, O God of Judah. The altar, the temple, what is holy to you will be restored. I will destroy my altar. Listen to my voice.

Dio di Giuda!

Abdallo
Where do you intend to go?

Babylonian Soldiers
We are all here to protect you.

I want to save my daughter, Fenena.

Abdallo and the Babylonian Soldiers
The wicked will fall. We see the brightness of the sun over Assyria.

Brave soldiers, follow me. I will return to be king of Assyria. My crown will shine in the sun.

O prodi miei, seguitemi

Fenena
Heaven has been opened. My soul yearns for God. Farewell, starlight. God’s light shines upon me.

Oh dischiuso è il firmamento!

( Voice from backstage ) All hail Nabucco.

The execution ceremony takes place.

O impious ones, cease. Soldiers, break the deadly idols like dust on the earth.

Empi, fermate!

All
It’s a miracle of God.

Return to Israel. Return to restore the joy of your homeland. Build a new temple. The impious tyrant was forsaken by God, but he gave peace of mind to the repentant king.

God made Abigaille’s mind so disturbed that the wicked one drank the poison himself. Only God is great and only God is strong. My daughter Fenena, let us bow down to the earth and worship God.

All
(kneeling) Great Jehovah.

Immenso Jehovah

Oh, who can see?

All
Why are you here, miserable woman?

(To Fenena) Grant forgiveness to those who are dying.

(To Ismaele) Come here.

(To Nabucco) They love one another. They are hoping for you. Oh, who will take away the pain of my irony of crime?

(To the Hebrews) I worship your God. Do not hate me.

Su me… morente

Hebrews
God will save you.

Please don’t curse me.

All
She’s down.

(To Nabucco) Those who serve Jehovah will be kings among kings.