Music by GIUSEPPE VERDI
Libretto by FRANCOIS JOSEPH MERY and CAMILLE DU LOCLE after
FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER 'S Don Carlos
An international cast perform one of Verdi's finest operas in the celebrated Royal Opera production by Luchino Visconti.
The forest of Fontainebleau, the lofty cloisters of San
Yuste and the royal palace in Madrid form the 16th-century backcloth to a political struggle in Spain which is mirrored by an intense personal drama.
Schiller's play was the basis for the opera: it may not be accurate history but it makes magnificent music-drama! The Royal Opera Chorus chorus-master PETER BURIAN
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House leaderJOHN BROWN conductor Bernard Haitink
Introduced by Humphrey Burton
The Forest of Fontainebleau Act 2
Scene 1: The cloisters of the Monastery of San Yuste
Scene 2: Outside the cloisters Act 3
Scene 1: The Queen's garden in Madrid Scene 2: An auto-da-fe
Act 4
Scene 1: The King's study in Scene 2: Carlo's prison Act 5
The cloisters of San Yuste Original production, scenery, costumes and lighting by LUCHINO VISCONTI
Assistants MAURIZJO CHLARI and FILIPPOSANJUST
Staged by CHRISTOPHER RENSHAW Sung in Italian with English subtitles by GILLIAN WIDDICOMBE
Introductory feature directed by CAROLYN JOHNSON
SoundGRAHAM HAINES LightingJOHN ELFES
Directed for television by BRIAN LARGE