Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Don Carlos in HD


Patrick Furrer

Conductor -Patrick Furrer


Headshot of Sonya Yoncheva

Élisabeth de Valois -Sonya Yoncheva


Headshot of Jamie Barton

Eboli -Jamie Barton


Headshot of Matthew Polenzani

Don Carlos -Matthew Polenzani

Headshot of Etienne Dupuis

Rodrigue -Etienne Dupuis


Headshot of Eric Owens

Philippe II - Eric Owens


Headshot of John Relyea

Grand Inquisitor - John Relyea

Production by David McVicar

Saturday we viewed the live HD performance of the French version of Verdi's Don Carlos. This opera seems to be attempting to imitate reality, so perhaps a little reality is required. This is a calendar of historical events related to the life of Philip II of Spain. 

1527 Philip born
1543 Philip marries Maria Manuela of Portugal
1545 Carlos born, Maria Manuela mother
1545 Maria dies
1545 Elisabeth of Valois born
1554 Philip marries Mary I of England [bloody Mary] becoming her co-regent
1556 Philip becomes King of Spain
1558 Mary dies, Philip returns to Spain
1559 Philip marries Elisabeth of Valois
1568 Elisabeth dies
1568 Carlos dies
1570 Philip marries Anna of Austria
1580 Anna dies
1598 Philip dies

From this we see that Carlos and Elisabeth were about the same age and died at about the same time. Philip was already King of Spain for three years before he married Elisabeth of Valois. So it is unlikely that his coronation took place after he married Elisabeth.

The plot begins when Carlos, who believes he will marry Elisabeth, wishes to meet his future wife and tracks her to the Forest of Fontainebleau, France. They meet and fall in love.  By the end of the scene a political agreement has been reached offstage, and Carlos and Elisabeth find that she is to marry Carlos' father Philip.  This is the context for the rest of the opera, so the story doesn't make much sense if this scene is omitted.

I thought this was a brilliantly and beautifully executed performance.  The story felt right, perhaps for the first time.  This is the most I have liked Sonya Yoncheva whose performance shaped the drama.  I never felt a desire to go home early because it was all so fascinating.