Ernani is a love story about a young woman, Elvira, caught between three men: her lover, the nobleman-turned-outlaw Ernani; her guardian, the rich, elderly de Silva, who wants her for himself; and Don Carlo, the King of Spain who also has his eye on Elvira. Given the number of protagonists, it is also the story of a tragedy. Ernani was an immediate and lasting triumph for the young Verdi, marking his prowess at adapting an historical event the crowning of Charles V as emperor at Aachen Cathedral to a psychologically convincing musical drama.
The backdrop of three men paying court to one woman was the perfect foil for Verdi to explore the expressive qualities of three types of male voice. The tenor, a youthful suffering lover - Ernani. The bass, an elderly ruthless egotist - de Silva. The baritone, a more complex figure torn between tenderness and violence, self-indulgence and idealism - Don Carlo. Armiliato shares his thoughts on why he considers this opera to be groundbreaking, the secret of its success and the new vocality that Verdi used to portray the four leading voices.
In the mountains of Aragon. Ernani, the leader of a group of mountaineers and bandits in revolt against the King of Spain, tells his henchmen about his love for a young noblewoman, Elvira. She is in love with him too, but the following day is to be married, against her will, to an eiderly uncle, Don Ruy Gomez de Silva, Grandee of Spain. Ernani suggests that they elope together.
In the castle of Don Gomez de Silva, on the eve of her wedding day, Elvira nervously awaits the arrival of Ernani with whom she is to elope, and receives the wedding gifts brought in by her handmaidens with some embarrassment. Don Carlo is also in love with Elvira, though he knows she is in love with Ernani; Elvira rejects him and when the King comes towards her, she grabs the dagger from his side and threatens to kill herself and him.
Elvira tries to prevent the clash between the two men, but to no avail. Silva thinks the two intruders are seducers and speaks of his dishonoured old age, and in the end vows his revenge. But as soon as the King reveals his identity, all his rage subsides, as he never suspects for a moment that the King could be his rival. On the contrary, he asks Silva to give him hospitality for the night.
