Opera by GIUSEPPE VERDI, 1842, first performed in Milan. It is based on the biblical story of the Hebrews and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1-4), the Babylonian king who defeated them and held them in "Babylonian captivity." The king eventually goes mad but saves himself by converting to the religion of the Hebrews. One of Verdi's early works, Nabucco has had several revivals in the 20th century.