Queen Elizabeth I's love life at center of 'Roberto Devereux'

Given the mystique surrounding England's Queen Elizabeth I -- both as a ruler and as an object of romantic interest -- it's extraordinary that she's not the subject of more speculative tales than she is. As the aging queen who heads what is at that time the world's leading nation, Elizabeth found her romantic doings surrounded by rumors -- both during her lifetime and in the years since.

For the operatic stage, the best known such portrait is Gaetano Donizetti's "Roberto Devereux," currently on stage at the Metropolitan Opera for the very first time in its history and drawing sensational reviews.

The plot is based loosely on the life of Robert Devereux, known also as the Earl of Essex, a leading member of Queen Elizabeth's court. At opening, Sarah, Duchess of Nottingham, is in tears because she secretly loves Devereux, who is accused of treason. Elizabeth, however, is willing to pardon him, if only he will reveal the name of her rival for his affections. In spite of a ring that Elizabeth has given him, Devereux refuses, thus protecting Sarah, who has recently married the Duke of Nottingham, who is Devereux's friend. Sarah, meanwhile, is knitting a blue scarf.

Elizabeth's ring and Sarah's scarf will come to signify much before this royal struggle between love and revenge can be resolved.

Donizetti also wrote works depicting the lives of Ann Bolyn and Mary Queen of Scots, which creates the rare circumstances by which Sondra Radvanovsky will have sung all of "Donizetti's three queens" this season at the Met. Just as amazing, David McVicar is also the director of all three.

The lavish set for "Roberto Devereux" befits a tale taking place at the Palace of Westminster and the Tower of London. Elizabeth's costume is said to weigh 35 pounds. The audience for the HD broadcast may well have the superior view of it all, and the critics say that this is Tudor history at its best.

"Roberto Devereux"

When: 12:55 p.m. April 16

Where: Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; and the Galleria Mall Stadium Cinemas 15, 2980 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins

Cost: $24 adults, $20 seniors and students

Information: www.metopera.org/hdlive; 478-742-2000

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Queen Elizabeth I's love life at center of 'Roberto Devereux' ."