Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

a plan to elope with the willing Elvira; but, on the unexpected arrival of Don Carlos, the newlyascended
King of Spain, he hides in an adjoining cupboard. Don Carlos, being young and dashing,
has been greatly attracted by the beauty of Elvira, and has now come to make love to her,
endeavouring to carry her away by force. Elvira calls for help, upon which Ernani comes forth to
her assistance; and, at the same time, De Silva enters, and furiously challenges both intruders, but,
finding one of them to be the King, he humbly asks forgiveness, which is readily granted. The
King banishes Ernani on a distant mission, and they both depart from the Castle; and then De
Silva makes arrangements for his early marriage with Elvira, in spite of her protestations. Just as
the ceremony is about to take place, however, Ernani returns in the disguise of a pilgrim; and,
thinking Elvira false to him, he reveals himself, and demands that De Silva shall give him up to
the King, since he no longer desires to live. De Silva, however, declares himself bound by the laws
of hospitality not to betray a guest; and, when the King at this moment is heard clamouring for
admittance, he conceals the bandit in a secret cupboard, though he vows to be revenged upon him
later when he surprises the lovers in each others arms, Elvira having found an opportunity of
explaining how she had been forced to agree to her uncles plans. When the King enters and
demands Ernani to be given up to him, having learned that he has been seen there in the disguise
of a pilgrim, De Silva, proudly determined to adhere to the ancient laws of hospitality, refuses to
reveal the bandits hiding-place; and he even goes so far as to give Elvira into the hands of Don
Carlos as a hostage for the safe delive ring up of her lover later on. When the King has departed
with Elvira, De Silva brings forth Ernani, and informs him that the Kihg also is his rival. The pair,
having now a common cause against Don Carlos, determine to join their forces, and gather the
nobles together in a conspiracy against the newly-ascended monarch; but upon De Silva declaring
that Ernanis life is still forfeited to him, the latter agrees to kill himself at any time his death shall
be demanded, and gives De Silva a horn to sound whenever he desires him to carry out his
promise. In the third act Don Carlos, knowing that the conspirators are to meet in the Catacombs,
hides himself behind the tomb of Charlemagne, and hears their plans; and then, stepping forth, as
he is joined by his own party, he condemns them to death, but afterwards magnanimously pardons
them all. During his vigil in the vaults he has made the resolution to renounce his youthful
follies; and he now presents Elvira to Ernani, and gives them permission to marry, at the same
time creating the bridegroom a Duke. In the last act, therefore, Ernani and Elvira are seen
celebrating their nuptials; but, just as the guests have departed, and they are rejoicing in their
happiness, the weird sound of a hunting-horn is heard, and De Silva appears to claim the
fulfilment of Ernanis promise to yield up his life when called upon to do so. Though full of grief
and disappointment, Ernani faces this terrible blow calmly, too proud either to plead for mercy, or
to seek escape from the keeping of a sacred promise; and, seizing the dagger offered by the
inexorable De Silva, he stabs himself in the heart, and expires, as Elvira falls senseless beside him.
174 - FALSTAFF
Opera in Three Acts By Guiseppe Verdi
Libretto By Arrigo Boito (Adapted from Shakespeare's Comedy "The Merry Wives of Windsor")
First Produced Milan, March, 1893
Chief Characters Mistress Ford, Mistress Page, Nannetta, Mistress Quickly, Falstaff, Fenton, Ford,
Dr Caius, Bardolph, Pistol