Glenn Gould School alumna debuts international opera project of hope

Published on July 3, 2020

Nofar Yacobi, an alumna of The Glenn Gould School, has launched a unique, accessible, and diverse virtual performance of a powerful excerpt from Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco. (Watch Below)

The former Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program artist brought together approximately 500 musicians from 65 countries across the globe – including 55 opera houses, orchestras and institutions – to create The Musical Solidarity Project – a message of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.


“As the music world has been terribly affected by the pandemic, I felt there was an urgent need to create an opportunity for the whole opera and classical music world to stand united in solidarity and reciprocal support,” said Yacobi in a press release.


“And what could be better than Va, pensiero [The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves] from Verdi’s Nabucco? A symbol of universal hope, solidarity and unity – a group of people longing for freedom and for a better future, which is exactly what we are all experiencing now.”


The soprano conceived of the project while in lockdown in Italy, where she was part of one of the now famous neighbourhoods that saw residents come together at nightfall to sing on their balconies. The Nabucco performance features opera singers from across the globe and includes a full choir and orchestra and Italian sign language professionals. International partners of note are The Israeli Opera, The Berlin Opera House, The Singapore Lyric Opera, and Opera Canada, among many, many others.


World renowned maestro Frédéric Chaslin, who participated in the project, noted: ”I am delighted to be part of this exciting project at a time when all artists need to show solidarity… We are millions of single voices and for once, we need to shout together… let’s pray that music will be in the heart of human beings to help them move forward after this terrible crisis.”