The story of Nabucco and captivity of the Israelites in Babylon transcends time and culture. It has grown into a powerful representation of oppression through-out history and resonated with people struggling for freedom across the globe. The opera’s most famous number, the chorus of the Hebrew slaves “Va pensiero” gave voice to a simmering Italian nationalism and eventually became the unofficial anthem of the Italian independence movement, the Risorgimento or Resurgence.

Our presenter, Erika Reitshamer, is returning to Lincoln Library with a 3-week opera course. She is a lifelong student and lover of opera who thoroughly enjoys passing on her passion to others. She was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Company more than 40 years ago, led opera tours to Europe and served as Vice President of the Boston Wagner Society for many years. She taught opera appreciation for Lifelong Learning at Regis College for 9 years and lectures at libraries, town halls and retirement communities. Her last offering for Lincoln Library was Rossini’s comic opera The Italian Girl in Algiers on November 6, 2022. 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.