La vraie histoire de Roberto Devereux
Troisième et ultime opéra des Reines de Donizetti, Roberto Devereux se penche sur les dernières années de la reine vierge.
Roberto Devereux
Gaetano Donizetti
An opera steeped in passion with ambitious Queen Elisabetta and Roberto, the archetypal Romantic hero. A tragic historical canvas handled magnificently by David McVicar
Roberto Abbado direction
David McVicar staging and design
Leah Hausman choreography and revival staging
Moritz Junge costumes
Paule Constable lights
Maria Agresta Elisabetta
Gabriele Viviani Lord Duc of Nottingham
Karine Deshayes Sara
Francesco Demuro Roberto Devereux
Pierre-Antoine Chaumien Lord Cecil
Anas Séguin Sir Gualtiero Raleigh
Orchestre National de France
Chœur de Radio France direction Alessandro di Stefano
Sung in Italian, with French and English subtitles
Approximate running time 2h10
Donizetti’s love of British history is well documented in what is traditionally known as his Tudor trilogy (Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereux). Despite the liberties he takes with historical fact, his dramatic and vocal treatment of Queen Elisabetta in Devereux, the final instalment of the trilogy, is commensurate with her impressive status. She is no longer the submissive character of Maria Stuarda, but makes her personality felt in every respect. In her presence, Roberto wavers between virility and vulnerability. The tragic and musical crux of the opera, and the success of the trilogy as a whole, reach their culmination in this impressive face-to-face encounter. The orchestral and vocal writing and the clarity of the libretto reveal Roberto Devereux to be one of the most passionate of the seventy or so works penned by Donizetti.
In this rarely performed bel canto gem, Maria Agresta in the title role of the queen and Francesco Demuro as Roberto will unquestionably do justice to their roles, supported by the stunning Karine Deshayes and Gabriele Viviani. Roberto Abbado will make his debut on avenue Montaigne conducting the Orchestre National de France. Lastly, David McVicar, who has directed all three works from the Tudor trilogy for the Metropolitan, has created a unique and truly beautiful scenography for Devereux, which was rapturously received by New York audiences in spring 2016.
Coproduction Metropolitan Opera / Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
En partenariat avec france.tv
France Musique broadcasts this opera on 18th of April