Performance history

Ernani is a rarely-heard work. However, it regained some popularity from the early-1980s and was revived in a series of new productions at the San Francisco Opera (1982), the Metropolitan Opera (1985), Chicago Lyric Opera, and at La Scala (1984). The Met presented it in March/April 2008 for the first time since 1985 and, most recently, it was given by Opera Boston in May 2008.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, March 9, 1844 (Conductor: - )
Ernani, the bandit	tenor	Carlo Guasco
Don Carlo, later Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor	baritone	Antonio Superchi
Don Ruy Gomez de Silva	bass	Antonio Selva
Elvira, his niece and fiancée	soprano	Sophie Loewe
Giovanna, her nurse	soprano	Laura Saini
Don Riccardo, Don Carlo's equerry	tenor	Giovanni Lanner
Jago, Don Ruy's equerry	bass	Andrea Bellini
Rebels, brigands, attendants, knights, servant, nobles, ladies - Chorus

Synopsis

Time: 1519.

Place: Aragon, Aix-la-Chapelle, and Saragossa.

Act 1

Mountains of Aragon

The bandits demand the reason for Ernani's gloom. (Chorus: Eviva! Beviam! Beviam! / "To you we drink" and Ernani pensoso! / "Ernani, so gloomy? Why, oh strong one, does care sit on your brow?"). Ernani replies (Recitative: "Thanks, dear friends"; Cavatina: Come rugiada al cespite / "As the flower turns to the sun") that he loves Elvira, who is about to be married against her will to old Gomez de Silva (O tu che l'alma adora). He asks the bandits to abduct her.

In Elvira's chamber

Elvira worries about her upcoming marriage (Scene: "Now sinks the sun and Silva does not return"; Cavatina: Ernani, Ernani involami / "Ernani, Ernani, save me") as servants deliver Silva's wedding presents to her. She reaffirms her love for Ernani (Tutto sprezzo che d'Ernani / "I scorn everything which does not speak to my heart of Ernani"). King Carlos, disguised as a peasant, enters, but Elvira recognizes him and rejects the love that he offers her. As he attempts to use force, she grasps a dagger, but Ernani suddenly arrives and stops Carlos (Trio: "A friend comes quickly to your aid"). Carlos recognizes Ernani as the leader of the bandits. Ernani replies that Carlos robbed him of his lands and forced him into a life of banditry. As he invites Carlos to fight, Silva appears and sees Ernani (Infelice!..e tu credevi..che mai vegg'io! / "Dreadful sight"; Silva's cavatina: "Unhappy man! You thought this lovely...was yours"). Ernani offers to fight them both when Riccardo approaches and recognises the king. Ernani whispers to Elvira to prepare to flee.

Act 2

A hall in Silva's palace

Ernani enters disguised as a pilgrim. He asks for shelter, which Silva grants him, and then learns from Silva that he about to marry Elvira who believes Ernani to be dead. Ernani reveals his true identity to Elvira and she tells him that she plans to kill herself at the altar (Duet: Ah, mourir potessi adesso / "Ah, if I could die now"). unfortunately, Silva walks in at that moment, discoveres the pair, but agrees to keep his word to Ernani and protect him from the king, for which Ernani will owe him a perpetual debt. (Trio: No, vendetta piu tremenda / "No, I want to keep a greater revenge"). Carlos arrives and wishes to know why the castle is barred. Silva refuses to surrender Ernani (Carlos' aria: Lo vedremo, veglio audace / "We shall see, you bold old man") while Don Carlos' men cannot find Ernani's hiding place. Silva keeps his word, even when the king secures Elvira as a hostage. Silva releases Ernani, and then challenges him to a duel. Ernani refuses to fight with his saviour, but unites with Silva in his plans to free Elvira from the king. Ernani swears to appear at the summons of Silva, wherever he may be at that time (Oh God, hear the vow / "Odi il voto o grande Iddio") and the act ends with Ernani's aria of vengeance (Life means nothing to me, only hope of vengeance / "Sprezzo la vita ne più m'alletta").

Act 3

In the burial vault of Charles the Great at Aix la Chapelle

Carlos visits the grave of the emperor (Cavatina: Oh, de'verd'anni miei/ "Oh, the dreams and deceits of my youth"). Hiding behind the vault, he overhears a gathering of conspirators including Silva and Ernani. Ernani swears to murder Carlos. The conspiracy is foiled when Carlos's attendants enter and surprise the conspirators. The king commands that all the traitorous noblemen be executed. Ernani steps forward, declaring that thus he must die too; he is not the bandit Ernani, but Don Juan of Aragon, whose lands were taken from him. Elvira begs mercy for her lover, and Carlos, whose mood has changed, forgives them both and places Elvira's hand in that of Ernani.

Act 4

Ernani's Castle

Elvira and Ernani have just been married, when, in consternation, Ernani hears a bugle call. Silva arrives and silently hands Ernani a dagger. Ernani asks for time to "sip from the cup of love" (Ascolta, ascolta un detto ancor/ "Listen, just one word...") but, cursed by Silva as coward, Ernani keeps his oath and stabs himself in the heart. (Trio with Silva: E' vano, o donna, il piangere, e vano / "Your weeping is in vain, woman").

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Ernani, Elvira, Don Carlo, Silva)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
1967	Carlo Bergonzi, Leontyne Price Mario Sereni, Ezio Flagello	Thomas Schippers RCA Italiana Opera Chorus and Orchestra	Audio CD: RCA Victor
1969	Plácido Domingo Raina Kabaivanska Carlo Meliciani Nicolai Ghiaurov	Antonino Votto, Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus	Audio CD: Opera D'Oro Cat: ODO 1468
1984	Plácido Domingo Mirella Freni Renato Bruson Nicolai Ghiaurov	Riccardo Muti, Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus (Production by Luca Ronconi)	DVD: Kultur Video Cat: D72913