Nabucco

Millennium Centre, Cardiff

5/5

HALLELUJAH for this epic, kitsch, camp and X Factor-style production of Giuseppe Verdi’s classic opera Nabucco.

Welsh National Opera’s Faith season may have spluttered into action with Moses und Aron but it has certainly burst into flame with this production.

Based on biblical stories from the Books of Jeremiah and Daniel, the libretto follows the plight of the Jews as they are exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco, with the historical events used as background for the romantic plot. 

This production stars the sublime Mary Elizabeth Williams (pictured) as Nabucco’s daughter Abigaille. To say that Williams steals the show is an understatement as she is a wonderful singer, actor and, on this showing, a natural comedian as well.

Williams starred as a beautiful Tosca last year at the WNO and here she shimmies, sparkles and effortlessly steals every scene she appears in.

But Nabucco is more than just a vehicle for a talented soprano and the WNO chorus performs its collective socks off, none more so than when they launch into Verdi’s well-known Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves.

Alongside stellar performances from Kevin Short as the Hebrew high priest Zaccaria and David Kempster’s Nabucco, the quality of the chorus and orchestra at the WNO helps drive this production to greater heights.

The staging is crazy but works, especially in the second act when the set is encased in shimmering gold.

As Abigaille takes Nabucco’s crown, her followers are dressed in terrorist balaclavas which she and the Baal high priest James Platt adorn with black feathers. 

They then all perform a crazed Las Vegas showgirl dance routine and the kitschometer ramps up even higher as those whacky Babylonians don white sparkly gloves like biblically crazed Michael Jacksons.

What opera purists will make of a production of Nabucco that plays some of the scenes for laughs heaven alone knows but the audience loved this gloriously nutty production, although some idiots raised a boo on opening night.

This definitely deserves to play to packed houses for the rest of the run.

Runs until June 14, then tours until June 21. Details: www.wno.org.uk.