Roberto Devereux is the fourth and finest of Donizettis works dedicated to the Tudor period of English history, and is considered by many to be the ultimate masterpiece amongst his Italian operas. The tragic narrative is a tale of intrigue and vengeance in the court of the elderly and weary Queen Elisabeth I, with Donizettis powerful score expressing all of the intense drama and sorrowful emotion demanded by the operas finely etched characters. This star-studded Donizetti Opera Festival production received wide critical acclaim.