Nabucco (1979) (TV)

Director:

André Flédérick

Writer:

Temistocle Solera (libretto)
(more)

Release Date:

10 July 1979 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot:

Set during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), King of Babylon, the opera tells the tale of Nabucco's fictitious daughters, Abigaille and Fenena, who are rivals for the love of Ismaele, nephew of the King of Jerusalem.

Plot Keywords:

King | Temple | Crown | Priest | Hostage

Cast

Sherrill Milnes	...	Nabucco
Carlo Costa	...	Ismaele
Ruggero Raimondi	...	Zaccaria
Grace Bumbry	...	Abigaille
Viorica Cortez	...	Fenena
Marc Vento	...	Le grand pretre
Robert Dumé	...	Abdalo
Janine Boulogne	...	Anna
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
L' Orchestre de les Choeur de l'Opéra National de Paris	...	Orchestre et choeurs (as Orchestre de les choeurs du Théatre National de l'Opéra de Paris)
Nello Santi	...	Himself - Direction musicale

Directed by
André Flédérick

Writing credits
Temistocle Solera		(libretto)
Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois		play "Nabuchodonosor" (uncredited)
Francis Cornu		play "Nabuchodonosor" (uncredited)
Antonio Cortesi		ballet "Nabuchodonosor" (uncredited)

Film Editing by
Christiane Coutel

Production Design by
Beni Montresor

Costume Design by
Beni Montresor

Makeup Department
Claudine Grumelart	....	makeup artist
Catherine Thierry	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Paul Letailleur	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Catherine Benevant	....	assistant director
Jean-François Genty	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gérard Recasnes	....	property master

Sound Department
Michel Lepage	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Auriat	....	camera operator
Raymond Beheulière	....	vision engineer
Jacques Brujard	....	camera operator
Philippe Dumolard	....	camera operator
Pierre Georget	....	lighting technician
Jacques Gounaud	....	camera operator
Yves Senon	....	camera operator
Jean Spinas	....	lighting technician

Music Department
Evelyne Accart	....	music recording director
Alain Boizenblat	....	music consultant: for TV
Jean Laforge	....	chorus master
Nello Santi	....	conductor
Giuseppe Verdi	....	music by

Other crew
Nada Alekan	....	script supervisor
Marc Cheifetz	....	assistant stage director
Richard Dembo	....	assistant stage director
Georges Dutter	....	subtitler
Robert Gilles	....	stage manager
Henri Ronse	....	directed for stage

Production Companies

• Antenne 2
• Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (participation)

Distributors

• Antenne 2 (1979) (France) (TV) (subtitled)

Other Companies

• Opéra National de Paris  live from

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Antenne 2

Very good production with fine singing especially

I love opera, and I especially love Verdi. Nabucco while not my favourite of his operas, probably La Traviata, is albeit with an obsolete but interesting story as it progresses no exception. It is filled with the typical magnificent Verdi tunes you would expect, with tunes such as Va Pansiero it makes one wonder why Nabucco(Verdi's first masterpiece in my opinion) isn't performed more often.

Watching this 1979 production has not made me change my perception. While the brilliant 1985 production with Renato Bruson and Ghena Dimitrova is better being more dramatically powerful, the production benefits from fine singing and spectacular production values. My only real complaint is to do with a few moments of static staging, which diminishes the drama.

That said, the setting is truly wonderful, and the costumes are decent enough if garish. The orchestra play with real finesse complete with lively and musical conducting. The acting and singing is great and elevates the production to a higher level. The standout in as I said in my review of the 1985 production a very difficult role is Grace Bumbry as Abigaille, who is very believable dramatically and shows a limpid and beautifully tailored voice and technique. Ruggero Raimondi and Carlo Costa also impress, and Sherrill Milnes(who I will always admire no matter what is said about him) gives a very moving lead performance.

Overall, very good especially for the singing and music. 8/10 Bethany Cox