Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic opera “Maria Stuarda” depicts the merciless rivalry between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, who is seen as a martyr facing up to the illegitimate Queen of England. The opera was a victim of censorship at its premiere and was beset by problems during rehearsals but is now seen as one of Donizetti’s great operatic masterpieces. From the flamboyantly lyrical royal confrontations to the poignant final execution scene, this widely acclaimed production by David McVicar features monumental sets and sumptuous Elizabethan costumes bringing the majesty and stark brutality of Elizabeth I’s reign vividly to life.