THE next in the current 2016-7 Season of live satellite broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera in New York, direct to the big screen at the Regent in Christchurch will be Verdi’s epic opera, Nabucco, which is being screened at the Centre on Saturday 7 January 5.55pm.

For the first time in High Definition for satellite broadcast, the Met’s Music Director, James Levine, conducts Verdi's classic early drama of Ancient Babylon with the legendary Plácido Domingo adding a new baritone role to his repertoire as the title character.

Liudmyla Monastyrska sings the tour-de-force role of Abigaille, Nabucco's wilful daughter who sees herself as the warrior woman who is destined to rule empires, alongside Jamie Barton as the heroic Fenena, Russell Thomas and Dmitri Belosselskiy as the stentorian voice of the oppressed Hebrew people.

The plot is based on the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), and focuses on his imprisonment of the Hebrews, his struggle against his unscrupulous daughter, Abigaille, his divine punishment and final salvation. Verdi’s rich score offers melody, power and raw drama on a scale that does full justice to the opera’s epic themes of nationhood, faith, love and redemption which will call upon the full might of the Met Opera Orchestra and Chorus for the evening.

Tickets: £22 Concessions: £20

Regent, Christchurch

01202 499199

www.regentcentre.co.uk

Picture: Placido Domingo as Nabucco Met Opera publicity picture