Roll of the Head

Oh, sure, Gaetano Donizetti's Roberto Devereux is part of the bel canto era and contains some of the most gorgeous of his, and the era's, vocal works, but let's focus, people. The plot is pure romantic trauma, and it isn't even a love triangle as one might expect. It's a...

By Merritt Martin

January 22, 2009

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Oh, sure, Gaetano Donizetti's Roberto Devereux is part of the bel canto era and contains some of the most gorgeous of his, and the era's, vocal works, but let's focus, people. The plot is pure romantic trauma, and it isn't even a love triangle as one might expect. It's a love quadrangle, and not just any quadrangle. One between the Queen of England (Elizabeth), the Earl of Essex, and the Duke and Duchess of Nottingham. It involves sex, betrayal and the Tower of London (generally never a good sign for at least one character), and it's all happening right here at the Music Hall at Fair Park. What more could you possibly want from a tragic opera? Perhaps one that is loosely based on the life of an actual person? Try Robert Devereux, the second Earl of Essex. The Dallas Opera presents Roberto Devereux in Italian with English supertitles 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and January 31. Tickets are $15 to $199. Call 214-443-1000 or visit dallasopera.org.
Fri., Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 25, 2 p.m.; Wed., Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 31, 2009

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Merritt Martin has written for the Dallas Observer for over two decades. She has also contributed to Eater, DMN and USA Today. In addition to arts and culture writing, she spends entirely too much time extolling the virtues of pears, black clothing, and her cat Kenneth.

Contact: Merritt Martin

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