Publicity still of Joyce DiDonato as Mary, Queen of Scots.
Image © 2012 The Metropolitan Opera.
The Metropolitan Opera had never mounted any of them until David McVicar's 2011 production of Anna Bolena. This year, Mr. McVicar takes on the second part of this informal "trilogy" with a new production of Maria Stuarda ("Mary Stuart").
Based on a play by Friedrich Schiller, the opera deals with intrigue at the court of Queen Elizabeth of England, and a (fictional) clash between Queen Bess and her cousin Mary Stuart, the "Queen of Scots." (Elizabeth is also the center of the third opera in the informal trilogy, Roberto Devereux.)
American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato (seen at the Met in The Enchanted Island and Le comte Ory) has made something of a specialty of the title role, with performances at the Houston Grand Opera. She is the central jewel of a cast that also includes soprano Elza van den Heever as Elizabeth and Matthew Rose as Mary's lover Talbot. Maurizio Benini conducts.
Maria Stuarda premieres on Dec. 31, 2012--New Year's Eve.
Recording Recommendations:
London Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Aldo Ceccato (DG, 1971) Maria Stuarda: Beverly Sills Elizabeta: Eileen Farrell Talbot: Stuart Burrows
Teatro Comunate de Bologna cond. Richard Bonynge (Decca, 1974) Maria Stuarda: Joan Sutherland Elizabeta: Huguette Tourangeau Talbot: Luciano Pavarotti
Just as Donizetti intended Maria Stuarda to be a showdown between divas playing the roles of English queens, my recommendations for this opera feature two of the great ladies of the stage. On one hand, you have Beverly Sills' superb performance as Mary, with an excellent British orchestra and a strong Elizabeth from the reliable Eileen Farrell. The Sutherland/Bonynge recording features La Stupenda in her comfort zone, with her husband conducting and Luciano Pavarotti as Talbot. Pick 'em.