Nikolo Kotzev’s Nostradamus

Nikolo Kotsev began working on the Rock opera in 1997. He had always been interested in supernatural phenomena and people, and the personality of Nostradamus seemed very interesting to him in this regard. Kotsev liked the mystical moments associated with his life, in particular the fact that the French doctor and astrologer lived in the past and wrote predictions about the future.

Nikolo spent several months collecting information about Nostradamus on the Internet, and he spent about the same amount of time developing the concept. Other participants in the project also took part in the work on the script, especially Göran Edman, who played the Ghost Soldier. At the same time, Kotsev began writing the music, which took more than six months.

He placed special emphasis on working with a symphony orchestra and choir, and he himself said that this was one of the key differences between his project and the metal opera Avantasia, which was released around the same time. The vocalists themselves wrote the lyrics according to Nikolo Kotsev's instructions. Kotsev tried to select the performers in such a way that they would best match their roles.

He had worked with Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner and Göran Edman during the recording of the Brazen Abbot albums. He had originally planned to invite Sam Brown to play Catherine de Medici, but she was on tour at the time. Alannah Myles, who played Nostradamus' wife, (possibly Henriette d'Encausse) recommended Sass Jordan to him, who, in the end, according to Nicolo himself, coped with the role perfectly.

The Inquisitor caused the greatest difficulties. Nikolo needed a vocalist with great energy in his voice. He invited Ronnie James Dio, but his schedule was too busy. Nicolo did not even wait for an answer from Alice Cooper. Bruce Dickinson was almost approved for the role, but it was then that he reunited with Iron Maiden, and he did not have time to work on the Rock opera.

In the end, the part of the Inquisitor was performed by Jørn Lande. Nikolai Kotsev tried not to focus on other rock operas, because he really didn’t want his work to be compared to them, in particular, to the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, which he himself considered more of a musical.

Nikolo Kotsev studied music since childhood, studied at the conservatory for five years, played and conducted in symphony orchestras, and therefore, first of all, he relied on his classical education.

The album was released in 2001 under the SPV Records label.

The opera takes place in 16th-century France during the reign of Henry II and Catherine de Medici. At that time, the country was torn apart by serious political and religious contradictions. King Henry, proclaimed the "most Christian" king, was a strong ruler and, despite the dark times, confidently promised to provide his people with happiness and well-being (Pieces of a Dream).

Then the action moves to the time of the French Revolution. A detachment of drunken soldiers of the revolutionary army destroyed the grave of Nostradamus in the city of Salon, and one of them drank wine from his skull.

The next day, they were all killed by the royalists, but the spirit of the soldier who drank from the skull did not find peace. Supported by the mystical powers of the prophet, he was forced to wander the world until the end of time, warning humanity about the catastrophes predicted by Nostradamus (Desecration).

The subsequent events take place again in the 16th century. The story begins with Nostradamus' childhood and youth, spent in Provence, where he studied various sciences, including alchemy and Kabbalah. He became a well-known doctor in France (Introduction) and soon met his first love, Henriette d'Encausse (Henriette).

As his fame, associated among other things with his predictions, grew, the Inquisition began to show increased interest in Nostradamus and convinced Henry II to begin persecuting the prophet. At the same time, many people tried to explain to the king that he should listen to Michel's words, but he was absorbed in his own affairs and ignored their speeches (Caught up in a Rush).

The story then temporarily breaks off, and the Ghost of the Soldier returns to the scene, telling prophecies about the rise and fall of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte - the first Antichrist according to Nostradamus (The Eagle).

In 1537, a plague epidemic hit France, killing Nostradamus' entire family. This event broke Michel and severely undermined his authority as a doctor. The court Inquisitor accused Nostradamus of heresy and forced him to move to Toulouse. The prophet became a wanderer, but continued to help people fight the plague (Plague). Soon, however, he was brought to trial. The Inquisitor sentenced Nostradamus to be burned at the stake, but the prophet was saved by the intercession of Queen Catherine, who deeply respected the scientist (Inquisition).

Despite persecution by the church authorities, Nostradamus made a very dangerous prediction about the imminent death of Henry II. The king was to die in a knight's duel during the celebrations associated with the wedding of his daughter Margaret (The King Will Die).

The scholar tried to warn Henry of the threat hanging over him, but the Inquisitor decided that he was trying to curse the king, and only hated Michel even more. The king, however, did not want to listen to anyone's fears and did not cancel the upcoming duel (I Don't Believe).

Nostradamus, tired of wandering and persecution, returned to his native Salon, where in 1547 he married the widow Anna Gemmell and finally began a quiet family life (Try to Live Again).

At the same time, he began to publish collections of his quatrains, collected in ten Centuries. But soon his writings were adopted by the Huguenots, who were fighting the Catholic Church (War of Religions).

This finally infuriated the Inquisitor, who firmly decided that Nostradamus must die, and began to gather his like-minded people around him (Inquisitor’s Rage).

Margaret’s wedding took place, and in full accordance with the prediction, the king was struck in the eye by a splinter of the spear of Captain Montgomery of the Guard. Shortly before Henry’s death, Nostradamus came to him.

The scholar reproached the fallen ruler for not listening to his prophecy, but at the same time he understood what motivated Henry – the certainty that the king had no right to back down (Chosen Man).

The Phantom appears again and reads the prophecies of Nostradamus, dedicated to the most terrible catastrophes that will befall humanity. He talks about the Second World War, unleashed by the second Antichrist - Adolf Hitler (World War II).

Then he predicts the coming Third World War and the appearance of the third Antichrist (World War III).

After the death of Henry, the Inquisition gathered to avenge the king and kill Nostradamus. Catherine de Medici, who believed in the prophet, urgently summoned him to a secret meeting. However, the Inquisitor found out about this and instructed a servant to serve Michel poisoned wine. Fortunately, the queen managed to find the necessary antidote and saved Nostradamus's life. After that, she appointed him the royal physician and adviser. The Inquisitor never managed to carry out his plan of revenge (Because of You).

Nikolo Kotzev’s Nostradamus

History of creation

Scenario

Act I

Act II

Act III

CD one

CD two

Notes

Singers/Cast

Musicians