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Maria Stuarda

Looking into the vast expanse of the Metropolitan Opera House at this moment, for every performance, filled me with the awe and the wonder that Donizetti surely wished Maria to have, drinking in the landscape of the outdoors for the first time in years. Photo © Ken Howard

Maria hears, most unexpectedly, that Elisabeth is granting her a final wish. It is a shock to her, and brings her back to the reality of needing to speak for her people in order to lead them, even in her death. She will forgive Elisabeth and ask that God's wrath will not fall on all of England. Photo © Ken Howard

A truly repulsive moment, as Elisabeth sizes up Mary for the first time in the flesh ~ having heard so much about her via her various spies, the fascination for these two women to finally meet face to face was brought to vivid life by Elsa's mesmerizing focus. This sent shivers through my spine in every performance. Photo © Ken Howard

I could never get through this moment without tears and relief. It is an unspeakably strong experience to walk these steps to one's death, even if in the safety of the stage. The emotion overwhelmed me every time. Photo © Ken Howard

Such a sympathetic partner with Matthew Rose singing Talbot, bringing a tremendous level of gravitas and sincerity. This duet is the pivotal point for Maria and he made it such a tender scene. Photo © Ken Howard

A favorite moment of mine,

After 10 more years of confinement, we see Maria aged and feeble, the weight of anger and bitterness bearing down on her. I was so happy that Sir David McVicar made the bold decision to age us, as I believe it brought a tremendous level of reality to that stage. Photo © Ken Howard

Such luxury casting to have Matthew Pollenzani by my side for this important role. Matthew brought an incredible elegance to this part, giving Leicester much more dimension and humanity. Photo © Ken Howard

A pivotal moment as Leicester must convince Maria to forgo her pride and do what is best for the country. Matthew brought such pathos to this moment, that it made my job to turn much easier. Photo © Ken Howard

With the towering Elsa Van den Heever as Elisabeth, the truth of the situation was incredibly easy to play, bringing these two Monarchs to life in a real, not melodramatic way. Photo © Ken Howard

Maria finally can breathe the open air and reminisce about her days in France - days of innocence and freedom. I loved this set, because it was open and evocative, but still captured the sense of winter and of the barren environment ~ the cold being one of the primary factors of her physical decline over the years. Photo © Ken Howard

Such a beautiful supporting cast in this show, always bringing truth and humanity to the proceedings! Photo © Ken Howard

Finally ~ relief is hers, as she has confessed and received absolution. Maria now has the courage to face her people and her death. Photo © Ken Howard

Maria finally collapses at the end of her confession, depleted, exhausted, and cleansed from the emotional journey of facing her final hour. ©Eric Melear

Donizetti gave Maria about 8 bars of music to march to the scaffold and recieve the 3 (THREE!) blows from the axe it took to successfully decapitate her. 8 bars of Donizetti allegro isn't much, so we looked for an image that would carry a certain impact. The chorus left the stage, and Maria was left reaching for heaven, blindfolded. ©Eric Melear

As Maria's final confession unfolds, her sense of absolution and resolution grows, bringing her a comfort in her darkest hour. It is tortured acceptance, followed by sweet release that allows her to go forth to her death in peace. The emotional content of this scene, for me, is one of the greatest of all in opera. ©Felix Sanchez

As the weight of the impending execution grows, everyone is looking to her for comfort, and she finds herself, in her last moments, needing to gather every bit of her inner strength to lead the people. It's an astute dramatic moment, for when someone is on their deathbed, it is not about their sorrow - it is most often about the sorrow of those loosing their loved one: they are the ones seeking comfort, not the other way around. This is a terribly difficult scene to play. ©Felix Sanchez

After her confession and absolution, Maria now has the strength to walk to her execution. In a heroic act, she unifies her people, mourning for her fate, and inspires them to pray not only for her soul, but for England's fate as well. ©Felix Sanchez

At the top of Act 2, Maria is awaiting the confirmation of her fate, and she stands completely alone, still enraged with Elisabetta's vendetta against her. Isolation of the body and spirit grips her. ©Felix Sanchez

Maria loses herself in the opening scene, dreaming of her youth, of her homeland and when times were quite certainly simpler. ©Felix Sanchez

After hurling the devastating insult of

In a fleeting moment of reflection, we see Maria carefree and joyful in her remembrance of her youth and her homeland. At the start of the opera, it is the only time we will see her joy - until, perhaps, at the end. ©Felix Sanchez

Maria's confidant and friend, Anna, stands by her side until the very end ~ she is the one Maria asks for to walk her to the scaffold for her execution. The connection is a very important one, in a world where she was completely isolated and surrounded by power-hungry men. ©Felix Sanchez

Unable to hold her fury and her pride, Maria hurls the greatest insults towards Elisabetta, finally unleashing her resentment, disdain and fury on this Queen who has held her captive for years. It is one of the greatest moments in all of opera. ©Eric Melear

One of the great, iconic moments in all of opera ~

With Maria's first appearance, we see a woman longing for her freedom, for a glimpse of her youthful joy and carefree existence, weighted against her imprisonment and humilation at the hands of her cousin, Elisabetta. ©Felix Sanchez

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We need you to remind us what empathy is by taking us deep into the hearts of those who are, God forbid, different than us – so that we can recapture the hope of not only living in peace with each other, but THRIVING together in a vibrant way where each of us grows in wonder and joy.
Joyce DiDonato

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