Donizetti’s bel canto opera, Maria Stuarda is a new addition to the Metropolitan Opera‘s repertoire this season. The new production stars Joyce Didonato, Elza van den Heever and Matthew Polenzani, all receiving the praise of the New York Times.

While I found the libretto to be rather tedious in the last half hour, I quite enjoy the singing style of Donizetti operas. I did learn that Maria Stuarda is like historical fiction (my term…maybe not correct) since Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart never really met, although the tension between the two was quite real and did end in the ultimate demise of Mary.

Here is the end of Act I – Figlia impura di Bolena