Maria Stuarda

The second of the trilogy of operas that Gaetano Donizetti wrote about the Tudor dynasty—the so-called “Three Queens” trio, with the others being Anna Bolena (1830) and Roberto Devereux (1837)—Maria Stuarda centers on the animosity between Elizabeth I and the exiled Queen Mary Stuart of Scotland, who had taken refuge in England. Created in 1835, the piece is primarily a showcase for its leading ladies, the soprano Mary and the mezzo Elizabeth (whose rage eventually leads her to condemn her rival to death), with a high point being an unhistorical but dramatically and musically satisfying confrontation between the two. Donizetti's score is melodic and intense when necessary, and in this 2009 production from Venice the orchestra and chorus perform solidly under Fabrizio Maria Carminati's baton. Vocally, Sonia Ganassi makes a stern, firm-toned Elizabeth, and Fiorenza Cedolins is a more than adequate Mary, although her voice wobbles in extended passages. The supporting cast is uniformly reliable, if not outstanding, with José Bros a decent Roberto. Unfortunately, the staging leaves something to be desired, with nondescript, vaguely modern costumes, and sets consisting of nothing but a configuration of boxes assembled in mazelike form. Presented in DTS 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD and DTS-HD 5.0 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is still a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)