Making of Opera: Nabucco - Costume Design | Washington National Opera

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents Nabucco, Verdi's Italian masterpiece. Go behind the scenes with Costume Designer Mattie Ullrich and the Washington National Opera and discover what it takes to bring an opera to life. Musical excerpts used courtesy of EMI Classics.

For the first time in the company's 56 years, WNO brings Nabucco, the opera that made Verdi famous, to the Opera House stage in its Washington, D.C. premiere.

In a stunning new production by Thaddeus Strassberger, the epic struggle of the Jews suppressed by Babylon's King Nabucco is echoed in Italy's nationalist conflict with Austria at the time Verdi created the opera. This landmark work is filled with grand and gorgeous music, including one of opera's most famous choruses, "Va, pensiero," adopted as Italy's unofficial national anthem.

WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin conducts, and Franco Vassallo and Csilla Boross make their company debuts as Nabucco and Abigaille.

Franco Vassallo as Nabucco
Csilla Boross as Abigaille
Burak Bilgili as Zaccaria
Sean Panikkar as Ismaele
Géraldine Chauvet as Fenena

Washington National Opera Orchestra
Washington National Opera Chorus