A few days ago I mentioned the resemblance of the act 1 finale of William Tell to Nabucco. Here’s the part of Nabucco that seems very much like the Tell finale. It too occurs in the finale to Act 1. This number is constructed the same way as the Tell piece. An adagio concertato followed by a stretta. The resemblance is about four and a half minutes into the excerpt below.
The action takes place in Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. Nabucco and Abigaille demand slaughter and plunder while the Hebrews condemn Ismaele for going against the command of the High Priest Zaccaria. Its demonstrates the relentless energy that Verdi displayed throughout his career.
William Tell was performed only once in Italy, in Naples, before Verdi wrote Nabucco. Verdi had never been as far south as Rome when he wrote his third opera. So the resemblance is likely a coincidence.
