Ernani (1983)

Verdis early masterpiece is based on a Victor Hugo play with a complicated plot concerning a young woman and the three men vying for her affectionsher elderly uncle a king destined to become Holy Roman Emperor and a bandit who is actually an overthrown nobleman Though there is plenty of action arising from the various passions and grudges scattered among these characters the opera is best appreciated as a feast of beautiful and dramatic Italianate singing With virtuosic roles for a quartet of principals the opera delivers one feat of heroic vocalism after another