Composers

Production

ACT I

John of Aragon, whose father was killed on orders of Don Carlos' father, has taken the name of Ernani while hiding out in the mountains of Aragon, leading a band of rebels. He is in love with the beautiful and proud Donna Elvira, who is unfortunately affianced to her aging uncle Don Ruy Gomez de Silva.

Don Carlos, the King, sneaks into the private chamber of Elvira by imitating the signal of her beloved Ernani, for the future Charles the Fifth, Holy Roman Emperor, has also fallen madly in love with her. She refuses his confession of ardour and is about to be carried off by the irate Carlos when Ernani himself gains entrance and confronts him. It is about to conflagrate further when Elvira's actual betrothed, Silva, enters and becomes rather angry at finding two men already with her.

The King, who has come in disguise, reveals himself to Silva and pretends to have come to consult on the pending election of Holy Roman Emperor and the conspiracy against his own life - thus the novel mode of entry via Elvira's chamber. He then requests that Ernani leave, thus temporarily saving Ernani's skin from the immediate vengeance of Silva, a noble Spanish gesture.

ACT II

Some time has passed and Elvira has finally agreed to be wed to Silva, believing Ernani perished at the hands of the King's soldiers. It is the eve of the wedding when Ernani, however, takes refuge from the King's men in Silva's castle, disguised as a pilgrim. It now behooves Silva to protect Ernani's life, another noble Spanish gesture, even when the latter's true identity is revealed. This occurs upon the entrance of Elvira in bridal attire, rendering her beloved aware of the pending marriage.

The distraught cavalier declares himself and wishes to be handed over to the King (sooner to die than live without Elvira) who will soon be at the gates of the Don's castle. The honourable Silva will not hear of it and prepares to defend the castle, if necessary. While he is giving orders to his men, the two lovers are alone. Don Silva returns to see them thus enrapt, but as the King has arrived, he cannot suitably respond yet. Elvira leaves, Ernani is hidden, and Don Silva refuses to give him up to the King, angering him and causing him to demand Silva's death. At the plea of Elvira, the King releases Silva but takes the bride as insurance against disloyalty. 

Upon the King's departure, Silva demands a duel with Ernani, who refuses the challenge, having just been saved by him at risk of death. Instead he suggests they unite to rescue Elvira, protecting her honour which, unbeknownst to Silva, was in danger. Ernani provides him with a hunting horn, promising that the moment Silva decides to sound it, Ernani will take his own life. Silva agrees, there is a general call to arms, and a conspiracy against the King is set under way.

ACT III

In the vault of the Cathedral Aix-la-Chapelle, the conspirators meet to decide who will be the one to murder the King. Ernani's name is drawn. Silva offers Ernani his life back in return for the right to be the King's assassin, but Ernani rejects the demand. Honour above all. Having been alerted to the time and place of the council, Don Carlos the King has overheard the meeting, having concealed himself by the tomb of Charlemagne. As the canon booms, signifying Carlo's election as Holy Roman Emperor, he shows himself to the stunned nobles and peasants, as they momentarily believe him to be a risen Charlemagne. But the doors to the vault are opened by the entering electors of the Empire, come to pay homage to Charles the Fifth. 

As the new Emperor sends the conspiring nobles to be executed and the others to the dungeon, Ernani reveals himself to be John of Aragon in order to perish with the other nobles. But at the desperate pleas of Elvira, and in tribute to the legacy of the great Charlemagne, Charles the Fifth releases all the conspirators, restores Ernani's land and entitlements, and permits him to be united with Elvira. 

ACT IV

It is the evening of the nuptials of Elvira and Ernani. Outside the joyous masked ball, the two are approaching the wedding chamber in Ernani's castle. A horn is sounded in the distance, and Ernani is shocked out of the ephemeral bliss with the dread that all is over, his life is being demanded as he had previously avowed. The spurned and vengeful Don Silva is upon them, and refuses absolutely to forgive the debt by even one night, as Elvira fervently, desperately begs. Ernani observes his pledge and stabs himself, choosing the knife over a cup poison. Elvira falls lifeless upon the dead Ernani.