With Maria Stuarda, the Grand Théâtre in Geneva continues its exploration of the fascinating Tudor dynasty as seen by Gaetano Donizetti, the famous Italian composer born in Bergamo in 1797 and one of the greatest opera composers of the nineteenth century. Mariame Clément, the stage director of the production, pulls the strings of the power intrigues, to which the two leading French-speaking voices lend themselves: Stéphanie d'Oustrac in the role of Maria Stuarda and Elsa Dreisig in the role of Elisabetta. The musical direction is entrusted to the young maestro Andrea Sanguineti. The Italian maestro, recently appointed music director of the Alto-Musiktheater and of the Essen Philharmonic, will conduct the rhetorical accents of “Bel Canto”.
Gaetano Donizetti often drew inspiration from the tragic fate of the great figures of the English Renaissance. Elisabetta moves among lovers, supporters and palace intrigues. She will come out of it victorious, but at what price? Maria Stuarda, the perfect woman, will be sacrificed.
First act
Elisabetta announces her forthcoming marriage to the King of France in order to strengthen the kingdom. Talbot takes advantage of her good mood to raise a delicate subject: Maria Stuarda. Talbot asks the queen to release the poor Scotswoman, held in a castle in the middle of the woods and accused of high treason. Cecil, the lord treasurer, urges the queen instead to show no mercy. The queen is uncertain: she knows that Maria loves the man she loves herself, Roberto Leicester. Maria, shut away in the castle of Forteringa, recalls the happy moments of her childhood in France with her nurse Anna. Her calm is disturbed by the sound of hunting horns. Leicester arrives and explains to Maria that the hunt is only an excuse for Elisabetta to come and see her. Roberto urges her to stay calm before the queen.
Second act
In her apartments, Elisabetta is undecided whether to order the death sentence of the Stuart queen, as Cecil constantly advises her to do. Leicester's arrival kindles her jealousy, and the pleas of the man she loves fail to move her from her purpose. In the castle, Maria fears that the queen will take revenge on Leicester, and at that moment Talbot and Cecil arrive to confirm the sentence. Maria refuses to be confessed by a Protestant minister, as Cecil offers, since she is Catholic. Left alone with Talbot, Maria confesses all her sins
Maria is about to be beheaded: her family and Anna are waiting to see her one last time. Maria appears and asks everyone to pray for her soul. The first cannon shot announces Cecil, who asks Maria for her last wish: the queen asks only to have Anna beside her on the scaffold. Leicester enters, furious, cursing the unjust death of his beloved: Maria begs him to forgive, as she has forgiven her killers, and walks to the scaffold.
On stage at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva
From 17 December to 29 December, with 6 dates
Saturday 17 December 2022, 7.30 pm
Monday 19 December, 7.30 pm
Wednesday 21 December, 7.30 pm
Friday 23 December, 7.30 pm
Monday 26 December, 3.00 pm
Thursday 29 December, 7.30 pm
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