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Performance history
It was first performed on October 29, 1837 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
Background
The plot of Roberto Devereux was hardly original and was liberally taken from Il Conte d'Essex by Felice Romani (1833). Romani's widow charged Cammarano with plagiarism though the practice of stealing plots was very common between rival Italian opera houses.
Robert Devereux was the subject of at three least French plays: Le Comte d'Essex by Pierre Corneille, Le Comte d'Essex by La Calprenede, and the source of this opera Elisabeth d'Angleterre by François Ancelot.
There are many historical inaccuracies in the libretto but it makes for an excellent drama.
Music
Though the opera is rarely performed today, it contains some of Donizetti's best vocal writing. The opera is raw and emotional; it is a powerful vehicle for the soprano. Some of the highlights include the Act I duet between Elizabeth and Robert Nascondi, frena i palpiti. The final scene is one of the most dramatic and difficult in bel canto opera. As Elizabeth is going mad with the death of her lover, Quel sangue versato pushes romantic opera to the limits of melodic expression.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, October 29, 1837 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Elisabetta, Queen of England | soprano | Giuseppina Ronzi de Begnis |
| Lord Duke of Nottingham | baritone | Paolo Barroilhet |
| Sara, duchess of Nottingham | mezzo-soprano | Almerinda Manzocchi Granchi |
| Roberto Devereux, Earl of Essex | tenor | Giovanni Basadonna |
| Lord Cecil | tenor | Timoleone Barattini |
| Sir Gualtiero Raleigh | bass | Anafesto Rossi |
| A page | contralto | Giuseppe Benedetti |
| A relative of Nottingham | bass | |
| Lords of the parliament, knights, squires, pages, guards of Nottingham | ||
Synopsis
The story revolves around a love quadrangle involving Elizabeth, Queen of England; Robert Devereux, Duke of Essex; the Duke of Nottingham; and Sara, the Duchess of Nottingham. Robert and Sara had been lovers, but while Robert was fighting in Ireland, the Queen forced Sara to marry Nottingham. Elizabeth has given Robert a special ring to guarantee his safety. The Queen is in love with Robert and is willing to forgive his treachery to the throne of England if he pledges his love to her. He is arrested with incriminating evidence including a blue scarf that belongs to Sara. Robert refuses to name his secret lover. This enrages Elizabeth who orders him sent to the Tower of London and executed.
Robert refuses to betray Sara and further enrages Elizabeth and Nottingham. While in the Tower of London, Robert sends Sara his ring and tells her to beg Elizabeth for mercy. Nottingham stops Sara and imprisons her to enact his revenge on Robert.
Elizabeth is mournful about the pending death of her lover and wonders where Sara is. Finally, Sara arrives disheveled and gives Elizabeth the ring. The Queen in vain tries to stop the execution but then hears the cannons announcing Robert's death. She demands to know why Nottingham prevented this evidence from being given to her and he says, "Blood I wanted, and blood I got!" Elizabeth is haunted by the headless corpse of Robert. She longs for her own death and for James' accession to her throne. The opera ends with Elizabeth kissing Robert's ring to her lips.
Selected recordings
| Year | Cast (Elisabetta, Sara, Nottingham, Roberto) |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Leyla Gencer, Anna Maria Rota, Ruggiero Bondino, Piero Cappuccilli |
Mario Rossi, Teatro San Carlo orchestra and chorus |
Audio CD: Cat: (Live performance) |
| 1968 | Montserrat Caballé, ?? Piero Cappuccilli, ?? |
Carlo Felice Cillario, |
Audio CD: Cat: (Live performance) |
| 1969 | Beverly Sills, Beverly Wolff Peter Glossop, Robert Ilosfalvy |
Charles Mackerras, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Ambrosian Opera Chorus |
Audio CD: Cat: |
| 1970 | Beverly Sills, Susanne Marsee Placido Domingo, Louis Quilico |
Julius Rudel, New York City Opera orchestra and chorus |
Audio CD: HRE Cat: HRE-374-3 |
| 1994 | Edita Gruberova, Delores Zeigler, Ettore Kim Don Bernardini |
Freidrich Haider Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and the Opéra du Rhin chorus |
Audio CD: Nightingale Cat: 190100-2 |
| 1998 | Alexandrina Pendatchanska, ?? Giuseppe Sabbatini Roberto Servile |
Alain Gungal Teatro San Carlo orchestra and chorus |
DVD: Image Entertainment Cat: |
| 2002 | Nelly Miricioiu, Sonia Ganassi Roberto Frontali Jose Bros |
Maurizio Benini Royal Opera House, Covent Garden orchestra and chorus |
Audio CD: Opera Rara Cat: ORC24 |
| 2006 | Edita Gruberová, Jeanne Piland, Albert Schagidullin, Roberto Aronica |
Friedrich Haider Das Bayerische Staatsorchester orchestra and chorus |
DVD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat: 073 418-5 |
External links
- Libretto (Italian)
