Dan Montez and the rest of the great people at Taconic Opera have prepared this information for schools who will be attending the first performance at the absurd hour of 11am :/

I thought some of you might enjoy reading up on the opera before you come and see it!  So without further ado, here is the story of Nabucco aka Nebuchadnezzar.

ACT I. Temple of Solomon

King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), king of Assyria, has attacked Jerusalem. Zacariah, the high priest, enters and assures the people that the Lord will not forsake them. He brings out the King’s daughter, Fenena, whom the he has taken hostage. Zaccaria turns Fenena over to Ismaele, the head of the miltary, for safekeeping. Left alone, Ismaele expresses his love to Fenena and as they talk, Fenena’s sister, Abigaille, bursts in after having been secretly let in by a spy. She privately tells him he can save his people and earn a new kingdom if he returns her love. He refuses and offers to forfeit his life for his people. The Hebrew crowd reappears, frightened by the invasion. As the king enters the temple, Zacariah confronts him and threatens to have Fenena put to death. Ismaele suddenly intercedes to protect Fenena allowing the Babylonians to carry the Jews away to Babylon.

ACT II. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Abigaille has found a document, certifying that she is not the king’s daughter, but the child of slaves. She swears vengeance. King Nebuchadnezzar has given the crown to Fenena while visiting the war front. The High Priest comes with news that Fenena has decided to free the Hebrew slaves, and offers to help Abigaille usurp the throne. Elsewhere, Fenena converts to Judaism. Ismaele arrives to plead for forgiveness from his Jewish brethren. After rumors of the king’s death are announced, Fenena receives a report that Abagaille is gaining support for a coup. Fenena decides to go resolve the problem, but before she can, Abagaille comes in to demand the crown. At that moment, the king, not dead, enters. He announces he is not only king, but God. Lightning strikes the blasphemer, rendering him insane. Abigaille takes the crown amidst the confusion.

ACT III. Throne room of the Babylonian Palace

Scene 1. Abagaille is now in control of the government. King Nebuchadnezzar, having lived in a cave for seven years, shambles in and wonders who has taken his throne. Abigaille asks him to sign a death warrant for the Jews. After Nabucco puts his seal on the document, he realizes this will kill Fenena as well. To undo his mistake, he decides to play his last card and declare Abagaille a daughter of slaves. However, Abagaile had already found the document and tears it up before him. He pleads with Abigaille for Fenena’s life, but she is merciless.

Scene 2. By the banks of the Euphrates, the Hebrews mourn their lost homeland. Zacariah prophesies they will overcome captivity and destroy Babylon.

ACT IV. Scene 1. Prison

Imprisoned, Nebuchadnezzar, desperate to save Fenena, prays to the God of the Hebrews for forgiveness. His mind is healed and he leaves to save his daughter.

Scene 2. Place of Execution

Zacariah hails Fenena as a martyr, and she asks the Lord to receive her into heaven. Nebuchadnezzar rushes in and reveals his own conversion. He stops the executions and frees the Israelites. Abigaille, who has taken poison, prays to the God of Israel for redemption.