The story of Donizetti’s
Mary Stuart
 Act
I: 16th Century, a gallery in Westminster Palace, London
The Lords and Ladies enter the palace after watching a tournament
held by the French ambassador.
Queen Elizabeth makes her entrance to the applause of the court
and announces that she has received a proposal of marriage from
the King of France. Her heart, however, secretly belongs to Robert,
Earl of Leicester.
Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, tries to take advantage of the joyful
mood to ask for clemency for Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, imprisoned
in Fotheringhay Castle and charged with high treason. Cecil, the
leader of the faction that wishes to see Mary die, encourages Elizabeth
to show no pity. Elizabeth asks for time to come to her decision:
she fears that Mary is her rival not only for power but also for
Leicester's heart.
When Leicester arrives, Elizabeth tests his feelings by asking him
to take her note accepting marriage to the French king, along with
a ring. Leicester shows no emotion. The courtiers depart.
Talbot, who had sought Leicester earlier, is now alone with him
and tells him that Mary still trusts she will have Leicester's help.
She has sent him a message and a portrait. Moved by this news, Leicester
promises to do all he can to free his beloved former Queen of Scotland.
When Talbot leaves, Leicester meets Elizabeth, who is suspicious
about what the two men have been discussing. She asks him whether
Talbot gave him a message from the imprisoned queen. At first, Leicester
denies it but he soon admits the truth and hands her the message:
Through Leicester, Mary is asking for a conversation with Elizabeth.
The earl vigorously pleads her case. Elizabeth reads the message
and for a moment is struck by the appeal, but as she notes Leicester's
reaction, her heart is overcome with jealousy. She agrees to meet
the prisoner, but her tone is threatening.
Act II, Scene I: A garden of Fotheringhay Castle in the
English Midlands
Mary Stuart, who has been imprisoned for many years since losing
the Scottish throne, is in the garden with her nurse Anna. She expresses
delight in the beauty of nature and muses over her childhood years
in France.
Their calm is troubled by the sound of the royal hunting horns,
for they probably signal a visit by Elizabeth. The two women are
about to run off and try to avoid meeting the queen when Leicester
appears and tells Mary that the hunting party is simply an expedient
to allow Elizabeth to meet Mary. Leicester begs Mary to be submissive
to the queen, but when she refuses scornfully he tells her that
he is prepared to risk his own life to free her. Mary's fear for
Leicester's life convinces her that she must accept the meeting.
Act II, Scene II: The Great Hall of Fotheringhay Castle
Elizabeth arrives with Talbot, Cecil, the courtiers and the hunting
party. Mary reluctantly steps forward and kneels before the queen,
who berates her, criticizing her past and accusing her of giving
her favors to Leicester to win his support. Mary retaliates, calling
Elizabeth the vile bastard of Henry VIII and “a stain upon
the honor of England.” While Mary feels she has been freed
of a nightmare, the entire court is horrified. Elizabeth vows to
be avenged. Leicester, Talbot and Anna are horror-stricken while
Cecil and the other courtiers voice their support for the queen.
Act III, Scene I: Elizabeth's apartments in Westminster
Despite pressures by Lord Cecil, Elizabeth is still hesitant to
sign the death warrant and fears the malicious gossip it would provoke.
As soon as she sees Leicester, however, she signs the warrant. He
begs her to reconsider and she orders him to witness the execution.
Act III, Scene II: Mary Stuart’s Apartments, Fotheringhay
Castle
Mary is worrying about what will become of Leicester as Cecil and
Talbot arrive with the sentence. Mary refuses the assistance of
a Protestant minister offered by Cecil. When she is alone with Talbot
she tells him that she desires the comfort of a confessor of her
own religion. Under his cloak Talbot reveals the vestments of a
Catholic priest. He hears Mary confess her sins, including the death
of her husband Henry, and he gives her absolution.
Act III, Scene III: A Hall adjoining the Execution Chamber
of Fotheringhay Castle
Anna and Mary's relatives are sadly awaiting the arrival of the
condemned woman. Mary arrives, dressed in black and wearing a crown.
With her family and friends she recites a solemn prayer. Cecil arrives
with the guards, followed by Talbot and finally Leicester. In a
fiery speech, Leicester opposes the iniquitous sentence but Mary
orders him to forgive her accusers and goes off by herself. She
returns at the appointed hour, as three cannon shots are fired,
and walks calmly toward her executioner.
Program notes
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