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Overview

Synopsis

Queen Elisabetta I of England has fallen in love with Roberto Devereux, Earl of Essex, but suspects that he is in love with another woman. Essex has been brought back to England to face a trial for reportedly helping the enemy during a recent military campaign, and Elisabetta wants to take this opportunity to find out the truth of how he feels about her. In a private meeting with Essex, the Queen reminds him of the ring she gave him. He needs only to send the ring to her, as a token of his love, and she will send a royal pardon to spare him from a death sentence.

But Essex’s affections lie elsewhere. Since before he was sent away from England, he has been in love with Sara, and is devastated to return to find her married to one of his closest friends, the Duke of Nottingham. If he is unable to be with Sara, his life is meaningless, and he might as well face the trial. He throws the queen’s ring down on the table, ready to accept death. Sara gives him a scarf she has embroidered, as a token of her love, and he wears it next to his heart.

The trial takes place, but with only the Duke of Nottingham speaking out to defend his friend, Essex is found guilty and sentenced to death. On his arrest, the embroidered scarf is found. Nottingham recognises it immediately, and knows that his wife has betrayed him. He returns to her, furious at her betrayal, only to find her with a letter from Essex himself, begging her to send the ring to the queen to buy him a pardon. Nottingham will not let Sara go; he will see Essex executed for their betrayal.

Too late, Nottingham relents, and Sara rushes to the queen with the ring. Elisabetta understands; her rival was Sara all along. She orders the courtiers to rush her pardon to the site of the execution, but before they can move, a cannon shot is heard: the execution is over. The queen is inconsolable. She has lost everything, her life is over. She orders everyone away, and as she sees her throne opening as a tomb before her, she walks to her death proclaiming James the next King of England.

Roberto Devereux is the dramatic final installment in Donizetti’s Tudor Queens Trilogy, and is based on a popular myth of The Essex Ring, which is thought to have originated as early as 1623.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Ancelot’s Elisabeth d’Angleterre
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1837
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
England, 1598, Westminster
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Elisabetta, Regina d’Inghilterra

Lead

Female

Soprano

Lord duca di Nottingham

Lead

Male

Baritone

Sara, duchessa di Nottingham

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Roberto Devereux, conte d’Essex

Lead

Male

Tenor

Lord Cecil

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Sir Gualtiero Raleigh

Supporting

Male

Bass

Un paggio

Featured

Male

Bass

Un Familiare di Nottingham

Featured

Male

Bass

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One

Scene 1

  • Prelude
  • Chorus ‘Geme! Pallor funereo’ - Chorus, Sara
  • Romance ‘All’afflitto e dolce il pianto’ - Sara

Scene 2

  • ‘Duchessa… alle fervide preci’ - Elisabetta, Sara
  • Cavatina ‘L’amore suo mi fe beata’ - Elisabetta

Scene 3

  • ‘Nunzio son del Parlamento’ - Cecil, Sara, Elisabetta

Scene 4

  • ‘Al regio piede’ - Un Paggio, Gualtiero, Cecil, Elisabetta
  • ‘Ah! Ritorna qual ti spero’ - Elisabetta, Sara, Cecil, Gualtiero, Chorus

Scene 5

  • Gran Scena ‘Donna reale’ - Robert, Elisabetta
  • Duet ‘Un tenero cuore’ - Elisabetta, Roberto

Scene 6

Scene 7

  • ‘Duca, vieni’ - Cecil, Nottingham
  • Cabaletta ‘Qui ribelle ognun ti chiama’ - Nottingham, Roberto Chorus

Scene 8

  • ‘Tutto e silenzio’ - Sara

Scene 9

  • ‘E desso!’ - Sara, Roberto
  • Duet ‘Il vero intesi?’ - Sara, Roberto

Act Two

Scene 1

  • Introduction ‘L’ore trascorrono’ - Chorus

Scene 2

  • ‘Ebben? … Del reo le sorti’ - Elisabetta, Cecil

Scene 3

  • ‘Regina … Può la Corte allontanarsi’ - Gualtiero, Elisabetta

Scene 4

  • Duet ‘Non venni mai si mesto’ - Elisabetta, Nottingham

Scene 5

  • Trio ‘Ecco l’indegno!’ - Elisabetta, Roberto, Nottingham

Scene 6

  • ‘Tutti udite’ - Elisabetta, Roberto, Nottingham, Cecil, Gualtiero, Chorus

Act Three

Scene 1

  • ‘Ne riede ancora il mio consorte!’ - Sara

Scene 2

  • ‘Duchessa! Un di que prodi’ - Un Famigliare, Sara

Scene 3

  • ‘Il Duca! Qual torvo sguardo!’ - Sara, Nottingham
  • Duet ‘Non sai che un nume vindice’ - Sara, Nottingham

Scene 4

  • ‘Ed ancor la tremenda porta non si dischiude?’ - Roberto
  • Cavatina ‘Io ti diro fra gli ultimi singhiozzi’ - Roberto, Chorus

Scene 5

  • ‘Vieni, o Conte … Dove?’ - Roberto, Chorus
  • Cabaletta ‘Bagnato il sen di lagrime’ - Roberto, Chorus

Scene 6

  • ‘E Sara in questi orribili momenti’ - Elisabetta, Chorus
  • Aria ‘Vivi ingrato a lei d’accanto’ - Elisabetta

Scene 7

  • ‘Che m’apporti?’ - Elisabetta, Cecil

Scene 8

  • ‘Questa gemma d’onde a vesti?’ - Elisabetta, Sara, Chorus

Final Scene

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.