Victor Hugo’s 1830 stage drama Hernani won overwhelming admiration, and over a decade later Verdi’s attention was drawn to it as an operatic vehicle that would give him opportunities for full dramatic unity. Its subject is the nobleman-turned-brigand Ernani who loves Elvira, herself the object of two other men’s desires. Ernani’s success was immediate and it became Verdi’s most popular opera until he composed Il trovatore. This production won critical acclaim, as did conductor James Conlon for his ‘superb support of the singers and the flexible elasticity he brought to his tempi’ (Opera Traveller.com).

This has previously been available as an audiovisual release from the Dynamic label (37972/57972) released in August and was praised by Opera Lounge as being ‘a performance that is ideal for getting to know this early work’.

Conductor James Conlon has conducted over 500 performances of Verdi operas. ‘James Conlon, had the orchestra erupt as though a tornado of tremendous force had suddenly blown into the hall’, wrote the Los Angeles Times of his May–June 2023 performances of Verdi’s Otello.

Francesco Meli is nowadays considered the Italian tenor par excellence. Of his performance in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, ClassicsToday.com wrote, ‘Francseco Meli cuts a dashing figure, sings directly on the text, and handles the awkward transitions very well’.


María José Siri in the Ernani performance was praised for capping ‘the ensembles with uninhibited generosity, blazing out over the choral and orchestral forces. Siri also had recourse to a full and juicy chestiness’ (Opera Traveller.com of this Maggio Musicale Fiorentino performance).

Cast:
- Ernani: Francesco Meli (tenor)
- Carlo: Roberto Frontali (baritone)
- Silva: Vitalij Kowaljow (bass)
- Elvira: Maria José Siri (soprano)
- Giovanna: Xenia Tziouvaras (mezzo-soprano)
- Riccardo: Joseph Dahdah (tenor)
- Jago: Davide Piva (bass)