Don Carlo

Severe cold reigns at the Spanish royal court: The heir apparent Don Carlo loses his bride Elisabetta to his father, the Spanish king, for political reasons. Likewise, the prince cannot realize his political ambitions. The king, in turn, is powerless against the devout Inquisitor. Only Carlo's friend Rodrigo seems able to overcome the limits of political and private constraints. Yet his bold dream of freedom leads to a catastrophe. In almost all of the characters of his 1867 premiered opera, Giuseppe Verdi explores his great theme, the incompatibility of politics and private happiness, and thus presents a deeply modern portrayal of society.