Roberto Devereux is an opera by Gaetano Donizetti, first performed on October 29, 1837, at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples. The libretto was written by Salvatore Cammarano based on Francois Ancelot's tragedy Elisabeth d'Angleterre. The foyer of Charles Garniers Opéra, Paris, opened 1875 Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental as it is through the lyrics. ... Gaetano Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797–8 April 1848) was a famous Italian opera composer. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 63 days remaining. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The San Carlo is a famous opera house in Naples, Italy. ... Location within Italy Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region. ...

It is loosely based on the life of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex an influential member of Queen Elizabeth's court. Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (10 November 1566 - 25 February 1601), favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England, is the best-known of the many holders of the title Earl of Essex. He was born at Netherwood in 1566, the son of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex and... Among the women known to history as Queen Elizabeth are, in order of date of birth if alive, date of death if deceased. ...

Background of the Opera

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. Felice Romani (1788 - 1865) was an Italian poet and scholar of literature and mythology who wrote many librettos for the opera composers Donizetti and Bellini. ...

Robert Devereux was the subject of at 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 Francois Ancelot. Pierre Corneille (June 6, 1606–October 1, 1684) was a French tragedian who was one of the three great dramatists produced by France during the 17th century, along with Molière and Racine. ...

There are many historical inaccuracies in the libretto but it makes for an excellent drama.

Plot of the Opera

The story revolves around a love triangle between Elizabeth, Queen of England (soprano); Robert Devereux (tenor); the Duke of Nottingham (baritone); and Sara, the Duchess of Nottingham (mezzo soprano). Robert and Sara had been lovers, but while Robert was fighting in Ireland, the Queen forced Sara to married Nottingham. Elizabeth has given Robert a special ring to guarantee his saftey. The Queen is in love with Robert and is willing to forgive his treachary 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 excuted. Look up Soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In music, a soprano is a singer with a voice ranging approximately from the A below middle C to high C two octaves above middle C (i. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as a countertenor). ... This is an article on the voice type. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning half soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above (i. ... The Tower of London, seen from the river, with a view of the water gate called Traitors Gate. ...

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 the death of her lover and wonders where Sara is. Finally, Sara arrives dishevled 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.

Music of the Opera

Though the opera is rarely performed today, it contains some of Donizetti's best vocal writing. The opera is raw and emotional; it is 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.