Abigaille

Abigaille (Verdi: Nabucco). Soprano. Elder but illegitimate daughter of Nabucco. She is in love with the Hebrew Ismaele who rejects her in favour of her younger sister Fenena. She attempts to replace her father as ruler of Babylon, but later, as an act of remorse, commits suicide. Aria: Ben io t'invennï, o fatal scritto! (‘Happy chance I found you, o fatal document!’). Created (1842) by Giuseppina Strepponi (who became Verdi's wife).