Nabucco (complete opera recorded in English)

"At last. British baritone Alan Opie confirms that he is, as his fans have long maintained, one of the few truly great Verdi baritones of his generation. From his first, majestic entrance, through to his compassionate, legato-laced redemption, Opie need fear no comparison with any rivals. Alongside him, Susan Patterson reaches grand, characterful heights as Abigail, while Alastair Miles is a granite-voiced Zachariah. Under David Parry's superb conducting, the whole set reeks of theatricality, verve and true Verdian style."
(Recording of the Month Gramophone Magazine Jan 2007)

"This performance is one of the finest yet in the Chandos 'Opera in English' series"
(MusicWeb Jan 2007)

The ever-popular Alan Opie takes the lead role of Nabucco. This is the first occasion that his performance of Nabucco has been recorded and he is joined by a fine cast of leading British Verdi singers.

2-CD set available at mid-price, including the full libretto.
The Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North perform Verdi's popular opera Nabucco with a strong international cast including Alan Opie, Susan Patterson, Alastair Miles and Jane Irwin, under the baton of David Parry.

Roderic Dunnett of The Independent commented at the time of the performances that "the conductor David Parry's splendid contributions to Chandos's Opera in English series, sponsored by the Peter Moores Foundation, are a feather in the record company's cap. Now, a shivering recording of Nabucco, the opera that clinched Verdi's nationalist credentials and universal popularity, looks poised to join them."

Verdi's third opera was an overwhelming success at its March 1842 premiere, so much so that La Scala impresario Bartolomeo Merelli revived it in the autumn for a record 67 performances. Audiences were ecstatic and it is not difficult to see why - Nabucco is the epitome of Grand Italian Opera at its most impressive, surging with a boundless, self-confident energy as it chronicles the Hebrew opposition to the Babylonian tyranny.

This production from Opera North is brought to life in a new way with its English libretto, making full use of the exciting solo writing combined with magnificent choruses.

Reviews:
'Reviews from the Opera North performances of Nabucco:
… a fine cast who sang with an impassioned involvement… Alan Opie found the innate humanity buried beneath Nabucco's aggression.'
The Stage

'Alan Opie was everything that he has been for some time now, the finest British Verdi baritone since Peter Glossop.'
Seen and Heard