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England, 1599. Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, is sent to Ireland with an army to defeat the rebellious Irish chieftains. After an unsuccessful campaign, and against the queen鈥檚 orders, he returns to England, where his actions are deemed a desertion of duty. The story of the opera takes its inspiration from the events of the following two years, which are condensed into a few days.

ACT I

London, 1601. At the Palace of Nonsuch, Sara, Duchess of Nottingham, is in tears while reading a book. Unknown to the other ladies of the court, she is distressed not about the story she鈥檚 reading but about her own situation鈥攕he is in love with Robert Devereux. Queen Elizabeth enters and tells Sara that she has decided to follow her husband Nottingham鈥檚 advice and receive Devereux, although she is worried that his affections have turned to another woman. Robert has returned from Ireland accused of treason, but Elizabeth is prepared to pardon him as long as he still loves her. Lord Cecil demands that the queen sign Robert鈥檚 death warrant, but she tells him she is not convinced of his disloyalty. Robert enters and Elizabeth dismisses the courtiers. She tells him she is ready to pardon him and reminds him of a ring she gave him as a pledge of his safety. But his cool reaction to her talk of their past love increases her suspicions. When she asks directly for the name of her rival, Robert denies that he is in love with anyone else. Now furious, Elizabeth is convinced he has betrayed her. The Duke of Nottingham arrives to greet Robert, who shrinks from his embrace. Nottingham is worried about his friend鈥檚 safety but also concerned about his unhappy wife, whom he lately found crying over a blue scarf she was working on. Cecil returns to summon Nottingham to the council meeting that will decide Robert鈥檚 fate. Before he leaves, Nottingham assures Robert he will do what he can to defend him.

In Nottingham鈥檚 apartments, Sara thinks of Robert and the danger he is in. He suddenly appears and reproaches her for marrying Nottingham while he was away in Ireland, but she replies that she did so on Elizabeth鈥檚 orders. Sara in turn reminds Robert that he is wearing the queen鈥檚 ring. He tears it off and assures her of his love. Sara implores him to flee and gives him the blue scarf as a pledge of her affections. After a painful goodbye, Robert departs.

ACT II

At Nonsuch, the court awaits news of Robert鈥檚 fate. Elizabeth enters, then Cecil, who announces that in spite of Nottingham鈥檚 defense the council has decided on the death sentence. Sir Walter Raleigh reports that he has arrested Robert according to the queen鈥檚 orders. When searched, Raleigh says, Robert was found to have concealed in his clothes a blue scarf, which Elizabeth now angrily examines. Nottingham brings the death warrant for the queen to sign but again pleads for his friend and dismisses all accusations as slander. Elizabeth refuses to relent. When Robert is led in, she turns on him furiously and shows him the scarf. Both Robert and Nottingham are shocked. His astonishment quickly turning into a jealous fury, Nottingham calls for his sword. Elizabeth once again demands to know the name of her rival, but Robert won鈥檛 reveal it. Now blind with rage, Elizabeth signs the death warrant.

ACT III

Alone in her apartment, Sara receives a letter from Robert in which he asks her to take the ring to Elizabeth and hope for her mercy. Before she can do so, Nottingham appears. He reads the letter, ignores Sara鈥檚 protestations of innocence, and orders her to be confined.

In his cell in the Tower, Robert hopes that he will be able to clear Sara鈥檚 name before his death. When soldiers appear to take him to his execution, he realizes that all that鈥檚 left to him is to pray for her in heaven.聽

The queen, surrounded by her silent ladies, waits in her rooms, wondering why Sara is not there to comfort her. In spite of everything, she wants Robert to live and hopes that he will send her the ring, but instead Cecil appears to tell her that Robert is on the way to the block. When Sara runs in with the ring and confesses that she is Elizabeth鈥檚 rival, the queen orders the execution stopped, but it is too late: a cannon shot announces Robert鈥檚 death. Nottingham arrives and Elizabeth turns on him and Sara, demanding to know why they didn鈥檛 bring her the ring sooner. Nottingham proudly replies her that all he wanted was revenge. Elizabeth orders them both taken away. Haunted by a vision of the beheaded Robert, she now only longs to be free of her role as queen.

- With thanks to the Metropolitan聽 Opera, New York