Maria Stuarda
An opera in 2 acts | Composer: Gaetano Donizetti | Librettist: Giuseppe Bardari
9 December (Friday), 7:30pm
10 December (Saturday), 2:30pm
10 December (Saturday), 7:30pm
11 December (Sunday), 2:30pm
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis).
10% off for every purchase of 10 – 19 standard tickets; 15% off for 20 or more standard tickets.
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount schemes for each purchase. Please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase.
Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 15-min interval.
Language: Italian | Surtitle: Chinese & English
Synopsis
Act 1
The Palace of Westminster
Queen Elizabeth I contemplates a marriage proposal from the King of France, which she is considering for political gain, while secretly pining for the Earl of Leicester, whose absence from court she notices. Talbot tries to plead for Mary, former Queen of Scots, imprisoned in Fotheringhay Castle since fleeing from Scotland. But Elizabeth is reluctant to pardon and free her cousin.
Leicester arrives and Elizabeth asks him to deliver a ring to the King of France as an acceptance of the marriage proposal, he obeys and seems unmoved by the commission. Leicester receives a letter from Mary in which she expresses her wish to meet with Elizabeth in hopes of reconciliation. He gives Elizabeth the letter, and enthusiastically pleads for her to accept Mary’s request. Elizabeth suspects that he is in love with her rival and reluctantly agrees to the meeting.
The Grounds of Fotheringhay Castle
Accompanied by Anna, Mary walks in the park, recalling the happy days of her youth in France. The horns sound the approach of Elizabeth terrifies her, and she regrets her request of a meeting. Leicester arrives and convinces her to stay and face her.
Elizabeth experiences mixed feelings, on one hand rejecting Cecil’s urging for executing Mary and on the other hand enraged by the fervor with which Leicester argues her rival’s case. Asking for forgiveness, Mary takes Leicester’s advice and kneel before Elizabeth. After receiving an earful of insults from Elizabeth, despite Leicester’s attempts to calm her, Mary accuses Elizabeth of being a bastard and therefore an imposter to the throne. The confrontation ends in an acrimonious quarrel. The furious Elizabeth tells Mary to expect her death sentence.
Act 2
The Palace of Westminster
Although bitterly affronted, Elizabeth hesitates to sign the death warrant. Cecil tries to convince her that her peace of mind and the safety of the realm depend on Mary’s death. Leicester’s arrival arouses intense feelings of jealousy in Elizabeth. She signs the death warrant and orders Leicester to witness the execution.
Mary’s apartment in Fotheringhay
Cecil brings the death warrant and announces the sorrowful news. Mary confesses to Talbot her involvement in the murder of her husband, and also admits her consent to a plot to assassinate Elizabeth.
A room next to the execution chamber
Mary’s friends lament her fate. She extends her love to Leicester and prays for a blessing on Elizabeth and the kingdom. As the cannon sounds the signal for her execution, she walks toward the executioner.
Cast
Meryl Dominguez
Maria
9 & 10/12, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
Lee Sang-eun
Maria
10 & 11/12, Sat & Sun, 2:30pm
Hilary Ginther
Elisabetta
9 & 10/12, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
Anna Laurenzo
Elisabetta
10 & 11/12, Sat & Sun, 2:30pm
Todd Wilander
Leicester
9 & 10/12, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
Matteo Mezzaro
Leicester
10 & 11/12, Sat & Sun, 2:30pm
Sammy Chien
Talbot
9 & 10/12, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
Frankie Fung
Talbot
10 & 11/12, Sat & Sun, 2:30pm
Michael Lam
Cecil
9 & 10/12, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
Isaac Droscha
Cecil
10 & 11/12, Sat & Sun, 2:30pm
Kenix Tsang
Anna
9 & 10/12, Fri & Sat, 7:30pm
Colette Lam
Anna
10 & 11/12, Sat & Sun, 2:30pm
Cast
Maria
Meryl Dominguez (1)
Lee Sang-eun (2)
Elisabetta
Hilary Ginther (1)
Anna Laurenzo (2)
Leicester
Todd Wilander (1)
Matteo Mezzaro (2)
Talbot
Sammy Chien (1)
Frankie Fung (2)
Cecil
Michael Lam (1)
Isaac Droscha (2)
Anna
Kenix Tsang (1)
Colette Lam (2)
(1) 9 & 10 /12, Friday & Saturday, 7:30PM
(2) 10 & 11 /12, Saturday & Sunday, 2:30PM
Creative Team
Wilson Ng
Conductor
Lo Kingman
Producer / Director
Leung Siu Kwan
Executive Producer
Isaac Wong
Set Designer
Andrew Cheung
Costume Designer
Zoe Cheung
Lighting Designer
Dennis Lau
Chorus Master
Ingrid Chan
Répétiteur *
Ming Kwong
Répétiteur
Alexander Wong
Répétiteur
* The Artistic Internship Scheme is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Creative Team
Conductor
Wilson Ng
Chorus Master
Dennis Lau
Répétiteur
Ingrid Chan *
Ming Kwong
Alexander Wong
* The Artistic Internship Scheme is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Producer / Director
Lo Kingman
Executive Producer
Leung Siu Kwan Cindy
Set Designer
Isaac Wong
Costume Designer
Andrew Cheung
Lighting Designer
Zoe Cheung