About
Ernani is a love story about a young woman Elvira caught between three men her lover the noblemanturnedoutlaw Ernani her guardian the rich elderly de Silva who wants her for himself and Don Carlo the King of Spain who also has his eye on Elvira Given the number of protagonists it is also the story of a tragedy Only 14 years after the premiere of Hernani Giuseppe Verdi adapted Victor Hugos play into an opera to premiere at La Fenice Venice in 1844 Ernani was an immediate and lasting triumph for the young Verdi marking his prowess at adapting an historical event the crowning of Charles V as emperor at Aachen Cathedral to a psychologically convincing musical drama The backdrop of three men paying court to one woman was the perfect foil for Verdi to explore the expressive qualities of three types of male voice The tenor the bass and the baritone