Nabucco, originally 'Nebuchadnezzar', is a fresco of a period in the history of the Jewish people illustrating the condition of slavery in Babylonian lands.

In the background is the contrast between faith in the one god of the Jews and the pagan divinity of Belo; the former's display of strength with a thunderbolt and the conversions of Nabucco and his daughter.
Nabucco, king of Babylon, conquers the city of Jerusalem; the capture of Fenena (Nabucco's daughter) by Zechariah, the Great Pontiff, is in vain. Seeing her again, Ishmael (nephew of Jerusalem King Sedecia), yields to her love and sets her free. Back in Babylon, Fenana has converted to the cause of the Jews and Abigaille (who has just discovered that she is Nabucco's illegitimate daughter), imbibed by the High Priest of Bel of the news of the king's death in war, takes advantage of it to ascend the throne. But Nabucco is not dead, instead he returns and in a fit of madness compares himself to a god, unleashing a thunderbolt that strikes him.

Abigaille then takes the crown, has her father locked up and condemns Fenena and all the Jewish people to death. Nabucco, however, comes to his senses and - with the help of his trusted Abdalus - regains the throne, frees Fenena and the Jews, and converts to Judaism.                                        Abigaille, takes her own life by poisoning herself.

Teatro Massimo, Palermo:                                                         23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Oct 2022

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