The open-air production of the Verdi masterpiece Nabucco staged at St. Margarethen takes place amidst the intoxicating scenery of a rustically romantic Roman quarry, which provides a unique backdrop for this opera. The Opera Festival St. Margarethen in Austria counts as one of Europe's most important open-air festivals and nearly 220,000 opera lovers from all over the world visit it annually. Nabucco tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar, ancient King of Babylon, who went mad after proclaiming himself God. It is one of the most popular works in the history of opera and was Giuseppe Verdi's (1813-1901) break-through in 1842. It features the most famous of all opera choruses, "Va, pensiero...", which is a tune know to more than just opera lovers. This is an opera of epic proportions and the staging presented truly conforms to this spirit: horses, pyrotechnical special effects and more than 400 participants take to the stage.