Richard Bratby

Not pleasant, and not in tune, but unarguably compelling: Royal Opera’s Nabucco reviewed

Plus: Clara-Jumi Kang had nothing much to say in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, but said it very smartly, and received warm applause

The Babylonians look like Observer readers enjoying a private view at Tate Modern: Royal Opera's Nabucco. Image: Bill Cooper
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  • Nabucco

    Royal Opera House, in rep until 23 January

  • CBSO/Kang/Bancroft

    Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Nabucco, said Giuseppe Verdi, ‘was born under a lucky star’. It was both his last throw of the dice and his first undisputed hit, composed after the failure of Un giorno di regno and the death of his young wife and two children had driven him to abandon music outright.

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