Opera in three acts by Donizetti to a libretto by Cammarano after F. Ancelot's Elisabeth d′Angleterre (1837, Naples).
Roberto Devereux
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Roberto Devereux (or Roberto Devereux, ossia Il conte di Essex [Roberto Devereux, or the Earl of Essex]) is a tragedia lirica, or tragic opera, by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian libretto after François Ancelot's tragedy Elisabeth d'Angleterre.
It is loosely based on the life of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, an influential member of the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The plot of Roberto Devereux was hardly original, mainly derived from Felice Romani's libretto Il Conte d'Essex of 1833, originally set by Saverio Mercadante. Romani's widow charged Cammarano with plagiarism, although the practice of stealing plots was very common between rival Italian opera houses. It is one of a number of operas by Donizetti which deal with the Tudor period in English history and include Anna Bolena (named for Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn), Maria Stuarda (named for Mary, Queen of Scots) and Il castello di Kenilworth. The lead female characters of the operas Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Roberto Devereux are often referred to as the "Three Queens." They earned some degree of fame in the 1970s, when the American soprano Beverly Sills tried to promote them as a series. Robert Devereux was the subject of at least three French plays: Le Comte d'Essex by Thomas 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.
Contents |
Performance history
Roberto Devereux was first performed on 29 October 1837 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 29 October 1837 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Elisabetta, Queen of England | soprano | Giuseppina Ronzi de Begnis |
| The Duke of Nottingham | baritone | Paul 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 servant of Nottingham | bass | |
| Lords of the parliament, knights, squires, pages, guards of Nottingham | ||
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.
Synopsis
- Place: London, England
- Time: The reign of Queen Elizabeth I
The story revolves around a love quadrangle involving Elizabeth, Queen of England; Robert Devereux, Earl 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.
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 |
Sir Charles Mackerras, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ambrosian Opera Chorus |
Audio CD: Cat: |
| 1970 | Beverly Sills, Susanne Marsee, Plácido Domingo, Louis Quilico |
Julius Rudel, New York City Opera orchestra and chorus |
Audio CD: HRE Cat: HRE-374-3 |
| 1994 | Edita Gruberová, Delores Zeigler, Ettore Kim, Don Bernardini |
Friedrich 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 Bayerische Staatsorchester and chorus |
DVD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat: 073 418-5 |
External links
- Libretto (Italian)
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Learn More
 | Roberto Devereux (1998 Theater Film) |
| Roberto Devereux (1975 Theater Film) |
| Roberto Devereux (opera) |
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Mentioned in
- Roberto Devereux (1998 Theater Film)
- Roberto Devereux (1975 Theater Film)
- Roberto Devereux (opera)
- Duke of Nottingham (character)
- Sir Walter Raleigh (character)
- Salvatore Cammarano
- Earl of Essex (character)
- Sara Nottingham (character)
- Roberto Devereux (character)
- Robert Cecil (character)
- (Domenico) Gaetano (Maria) Donizetti (music)
- Elisabetta (character)
- Salvatore Cammarano (Classical Musician)
- Roberto Alagna (Classical Musician)
