W1B-018 Belfast business 2-2.txt
9 March 1998

Dear Theatregoer, Amongst the best of the emotionally-charged, musically uplifting operas you will have enjoyed at Northern Ireland's Premier Theatre is a dramatic production of Verdi's NABUCCO which I had the pleasure of attending in Poland last weekend, and which comes to the Grand Opera House for two performances on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 April.

NABUCCO is very grand grand opera, with dramatic music to lift you out of your seat. It is a story of love (requited and unrequited) and betrayal, told in music which excites and thrills.
'Nabucco' is the Old Testament character Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, who, after taking Judah captive, repents of tyranny and embraces Judaism. His daughter Abigail attempts to use her power to win the affection of Jewish leader Israel, and treacherously robs her father of the crown. Fearing harsh judgement after her father's conversion, she takes her own life. These large-scale events inspired Verdi to write scorching tunes and driving rhythms.

The Lodz Opera is a Polish state company, with powerful soloists and a superb orchestra. Conductor Andrzej Straszynski is one of Poland's finest. For this visit to Belfast, they are sending forty members of their sonorous chorus, for a work with some of the most inspired choral writing in Italian opera. NABUCCO features on of the most famous opera tunes - the nostalgic lament of the Jewish exiles for their distant homeland.

I am sure you will enjoy it. Performances start at 7.30, and end at approximately 10.15. Ticket prices begin at £ 12, with discounts for groups, students and senior citizens. Full details can be found on the enclosed leaflet. Because the opera is sung in Italian, we shall be providing, free of charge, a plot summary with all tickets booked.

Contact the Ticket Shop at 2 / 4 Great Victoria Street (telephone 01232- 241919). NABUCCO guarantees a thrilling evening of grand opera. I hope that we can once again look forward to welcoming you to Northern Ireland's Premier Theatre.

Yours sincerely DEREK NICHOLLS THEATRE DIRECTOR

