The 102nd edition of the Arena di Verona Opera Festival reached one of its high points with the long-awaited return of soprano Anna Netrebko, who assumed for the first time in the Roman amphitheater the fearsome role of Abigaille in the new production of Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi. Under stage direction, set design and costumes by the visionary Stefano Poda, This proposal redefines the visual language of the festival, fusing the epic scale of the Arena with contemporary and sophisticated symbolism. Netrebko's performance was received with a standing ovation, highlighting her mastery of dramatic coloratura and a stage presence that gives humanity to the ambitious antagonist. After the success of his crystal Aida, Poda returns to offer a Nabucco that avoids traditional papier-mâché. The staging uses monumental architectural structures and lighting effects that transform the space into a metaphysical desert..
