Gloriana

Set against the backdrop of Madrid's iconic Teatro Real in 2018, Ivor Bolton takes the helm to conduct Benjamin Britten's opera inspired by Lytton Strachey's 1928 work, *Elizabeth and Essex: A Tragic History*. The narrative explores the tumultuous relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex, her once-beloved favorite who meets a tragic end due to treason. Through their confrontations, Elizabeth is portrayed as a complex figure, revealing her flaws, vanity, and ultimately, her humanity, making her both relatable and poignant.