Mary Stuart by Donizetti, Sun 06 Oct 2024, From (2024/2024), Directed by Roman Hovenbitzer, Conductor Ettore Prandi, Allee Theater, Hamburg, Germany

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, is held captive by her relative, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Elizabeth sees Mary not only as a threat to her rule, but also as a strong rival for the love of the Earl of Leicester. When the two monarchs meet, the conflict escalates dramatically. When Elizabeth – consumed by jealousy and despair – signs Mary's death warrant, the Scottish queen comes to terms with her past and dies as a martyr. Compared to Friedrich Schiller's original drama, Gaetano Donizetti places a much greater focus on the personal aspects and the inner conflicts of the rival rulers. Since its successful rediscovery in 1958, the opera about the battle between the two queens has been one of the immortal highlights of the Italian bel canto repertoire and is an indispensable part of opera stages all over the world.