Benjamin Britten’s opera Gloriana, first performed in 1953 to mark the coronation of Elizabeth II, does not seek to glorify the new queen’s namesake predecessor but instead probes beneath her official image. In her repeated clashes with the Earl of Essex – a longtime favorite of the queen who was ultimately executed for treason – Elizabeth I is portrayed as flawed and vain, yet also human and sympathetic. For this production, Ivor Bolton and David McVicar have joined forces to present an unapologetic Gloriana, drawing out its rich conflicts and revealing its complexity. The result, enhanced by an outstanding cast, is an unqualified success and a long-overdue vindication of a neglected masterpiece.