Giuseppe Verdi: Ernani
Monte-Carlo Opera

Ernani or El honor castellano, with music by Giuseppe Verdi and libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the homonymous drama by Victor Hugo, had its first performance in Venice in 1844. It is the first opera for which Verdi could choose plot, and it is also the composer's first Spanish-themed opera. At that time Victor Hugo was considered a cursed poet, who wrote works bordering on immorality. The fact that the hero of the story is a renegade was in itself a gesture of remarkable rebellion for the time.

Ernani is an absolutely romantic opera: three powerful men fall in love with the same woman, Elvira, who of course loves only one of them: Ernani. He is a nobleman, persecuted for having opposed the coronation of King Charles, who also seeks to conquer Elvira. The third suitor is the old Count Don Ruy da Silva, to whom she has been betrothed, much to her regret. After several incidents, Ernani takes refuge in Silva's castle, the same day scheduled for his wedding to Elvira. Hurt by the situation, Ernani surrendered to Don Ruy, who, however, will not report him. The two join forces to plot against the king, after he takes Elvira by force; but a terrible oath will leave our protagonist in the hands of his most terrible rival. Love and honor, truncated happiness and fatal destiny are some of the central axes of this Verdi work that is well worth visiting, in this excellent version of the Monte-Carlo Opera.

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