Roberto Devereux

Sixteenth-century London. Sara, Duchess of Nottingham, is in tears while reading a book. Unknown to the other ladies of the court, she is not crying about the story she’s reading, but about her own situation—she is in love with Robert Devereux. Elisabetta enters and tells Sara that she has decided to follow her husband Nottingham’s advice and receive Devereux, although she is worried that his affections have turned to another woman. Roberto has returned from Ireland accused of treason; he enters and Elizabeth tells him she is ready to pardon him and reminds him of a ring she gave him as a pledge of his safety. He responds with indifference to her talk of their past love, and she is suspicious. The Duke of Nottingham arrives to greet Robert. He is worried about his friend’s safety but also concerned about his unhappy wife, whom he found crying over a blue scarf she was working on. He assures Roberto he will do what he can to defend him.

Sara thinks of Roberto and the danger he is in. He appears and she tells him that Elisabetta forced her to marry Nottingham, and reminds Roberto that he is wearing the queen’s ring. He tears it off and assures her of his love. Sara implores him to flee and gives him the blue scarf as a pledge of her affections.

Devereux is arrested and the council condemns him to death. Sir Walter Raleigh reports that he has arrested Roberto according to the queen’s orders, and in a search, found a concealed blue scarf. Nottingham brings the death warrant for the queen to sign but again pleads for his friend and dismisses all accusations as slander. When Roberto is led in, she turns on him furiously and shows him the scarf. Nottingham’s astonishment turns into a jealous rage, but he remains silent in order to save his wife. Elisabetta offers Devereux his life if he reveals his secret lover. He refuses and is carried off to jail. She decides to save him anyway, but demands to see the ring she gave him. His only hope for salvation is if Sara can bring her the ring before the execution.

Sara receives a letter from Robert in which he asks her to take the ring to Elizabeth and hope for her mercy. Nottingham, in revenge for her presumed betrayal, confines her to the palace until Devereux is executed.

In his cell in the tower, Roberto hopes that he will be able to clear Sara’s name before his death. When soldiers appear to take him to his execution, he realizes that all that’s left to him is to pray for her in heaven. 

The queen wonders why Sara is not there to comfort her. In spite of everything, she wants Roberto to live and hopes that he will send her the ring, but instead Cecil appears to tell her that Robert is on the way to his execution. When Sara runs in with the ring and confesses that she is Elizabeth’s rival, the queen orders the execution stopped, but it is too late: a cannon shot announces Robert’s death. Sara and Nottingham are condemned to death and Elisabetta abdicates the throne.