In 1848, for a French-language production of Nabucco at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Giuseppe Verdi was asked to compose ballet music—a requirement of French grand opéra.

In a review of the Sarasota Opera’s 2005 production, the late Herald-Tribune music critic Richard Storm wrote: “You have to hand it to Giuseppe Verdi – no matter what the circumstances ...

On the evidence of the 83-year-old maestro’s performance with the same orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall last night, the answer would have to be a resonant affirmative. The Philharmonia Chorus ...