Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Opera in Four Acts By Guiseppe Verdi
Libretto By Méry and Du Locle
First Produced Paris, 1867
Chief Characters Elizabeth of Valois, Princess Eboli, Don Carlos, King Philip of Spain, Marquis
de Posa, The Grand Inquisitor
THE scene is laid in Spain during the sixteenth century. Don Carlos, the Crown Prince of Spain,
has conceived an unfortunate passion for his stepmother, the beautiful young Elizabeth of Valois;
but he is advised by the Chief Minister, the Marquis de Posa, to withdraw from temptation and
engage in a special mission to Flanders, since his father, the cruel, ambitious King Philip II,
already suspects the attachment between the two, and is jealous, having always treated his son
harshly. Carlos, though secuofing an interview with the Queen-who returns his love and also begs
him to depart on the mission for safetys sake-puts off the evil day; and in Act 2 he unfortunately
betrays his unhappy passion to the Princess Eboli, whom, at a garden fête, he mistakes for the
Queen. The Princess herself is in love with Carlos; but, now seeing that she is nothing to him, she
determines to be revenged for her slighted affection, and hands over to the King a miniature of
Carlos, which the Queen cherishes as a keepsake, and of which she manages to get possession.
The King, now more jealous than ever of his son, seeks to bring him into trouble with the
Inquisition, when, on Carlos passionately protesting against an auto-da-fé of heretics, he is
denounced as a traitor. The Grand Inquisitor, however, seeing the influence which is exerted over
the young Prince by Posa, demands the latters life instead; and the King has to consent to the death
of his favourite Minister. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is accused of infidelity by the jealous King; but
her innocency is proved by the Princess Eboli, who, now filled with remorse for her betrayal of the
gentle Queen, confesses her misdeed, and is dismissed from Court. Posa is not put to death at
once, and he now obtains the release of Carlos by making the King believe that he himself
committed the deeds of which the young Prince is accused. Posa is shot by one of the guards, and
the King pardons his son, whose release is loudly acclaimed by the people. In the final scene, the
Queen meets Carlos once more in a convent, to bid him a last farewell; and here the King,
suspecting that they are still lovers, follows them in company with the Grand Inquisitor, to whom
he again accuses his son of rebellion against the Church and State. Carlos is therefore borne away
to face the awful Inquisition, from the dread condemnation of which there is no escape; and the
unhappy Queen is left in despair.
173. ERNANI
Opera in Four Acts By Guiseppe Verdi
Libretto By Piave (Adapted from Victor Hugos Drama)
First Produced Venice, March, 1844
Chief Characters Elvira, Ernani, Don Carlos (King of Spain), Don Gomez de Silva
THE scene is laid in Arragon during the early part of the sixteenth century. Ernani, an exiled
Castilian Duke, has become a bandit, and has won the love of Lady Elvira, niece of Don Gomez, a
Gofandee of Spain, who, though advancing in years, intends to marry her, and has forced her into
a betrothal. Ernani disguises himself, and gains entrance into the castle of De Silva, having formed