Roberto Devereux (2017)

Roberto Devereux
Melbourne Opera completes its run of Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy with the Australian premiere of the acclaimed Roberto Devereux.

Production Details
Dates: 11, 14, 16, 18 November, 2017.
Venues: Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne.
Running Time: 2hr 30m, two 20 minute interval.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Conductor: Greg Hocking
Director: Suzanne Chaundy
Starring: Helena Dix, Henry Choo, Danielle Calder, Philip Calgano, Eddie Muliaumaseali’i

Following the successful first and second instalments of Maria Stuarda & Anna Bolena, Melbourne Opera completes its acclaimed Donizetti Tudor trilogy with the exciting Australian premiere of Roberto Devereux, starring Australian diva Helena Dix as the aging Queen Elizabeth, following her huge success in Lohengrin earlier this year and direct from engagements at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. The company has assembled a superb supporting cast including Henry Choo as Roberto, Danielle Calder as Sara, Phillip Calcagno as the Duke of Nottingham, Jason Wasley as Lord Cecil and Eddie Muliaumaseali’i as Sir Walter Raleigh.

Suzanne Chaundy directs and Greg Hocking and Raymond Lawrence conduct the superb Melbourne Opera Chorus and Orchestra. See the latest post in our “From the Director” series for an inside look at the production.

Based very loosely on the career of the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux, Donizetti and his librettist Salvatore Cammarano created for the opera a version of the eternal quadrilateral.

Elizabeth the Queen loves Robert, the Earl, who loves Sara, Elizabeth’s favourite, who is married to Nottingham, Elizabeth’s counselor and Devereux’s best friend. Eventually, Robert’s refusal to renounce Sara will lead to his death, as a jealous Elizabeth refuses to pardon him for treason, despite Nottingham’s pleading on his behalf (unaware that his wife and Devereux are a number).

MELBOURNE OPERA’S 2017 SEASON IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF FRA RICHARD DIVALL AO OBE

Press & Reviews
“Admirers of mid-nineteenth century Italian operas are exhorted not to miss this production. Bravo to Melbourne Opera, and brava to Helena Dix.” ★★★★1/2 — Rob Holdsworth, Australian Book Review.

“…a performance that would grace the stage at Covent Garden or the Met.” ★★★★
— Barney Zwartz, The Sydney Morning Herald.

November 11, 2017 

to November 18, 2017

Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne.