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ROBERTO DEVEREUX By Gaetano Donizetti Opera seria in three acts Libretto by Salvatore
Cammarano, after François Ancelot’s play Elisabeth d’Angleterre (1832) and
with some indebtedness to Felice Romani’s text for Mercadante’s Il conte
d’Essex (1833), also derived from Ancelot’s play PREMIERE: 29 October 1837,
Teatro San Carlo, Naples SYNOPSIS Act I At Westminster, Roberto is
threatened with arrest for treason while fighting in defense of Ireland.
Elisabetta loves him and is determined to save him, giving him a ring that
will guarantee his freedom. Unknown to the queen, however, Roberto is deeply
in love with Sara, who during his absence has been forced into a loveless
union with the Lord Duke of Nottingham. Later, Roberto visits Sara to say
farewell, and he entrusts her with Elisabetta’s ring, while she gives him a
scarf in return. Act II The ministers of the queen
are meeting to decide Roberto’s fate. They have searched his apartments and
bring the queen the scarf. When Nottingham sees it, remembering that he has
observed his wife wearing it, he bursts into a jealous rage. Deeply offended herself
at this apparent evidence of Roberto’s infidelity, the queen is furious.
Roberto is sent to the Tower. Act III Nottingham confronts his
wife, ordering her seclusion at home, thereby making it impossible for her to
send the ring to Elisabetta. In the Tower, Roberto hopes he can restore
Sara’s reputation before he is executed. At Westminster, Elisabetta is
miserable and wants Roberto to be spared. As a cannon shot announces
Roberto’s execution, Sara rushes in with the ring, followed by Nottingham, who
declares he detained Sara so that he might have his revenge. The queen orders
their arrest and then, haunted by visions of Roberto’s ghost and her own
demise, announces her abdication. Viking Opera Guide |