Mary, Queen of Scots

Making its ENO premiere, this critically acclaimed modern opera set 500 years ago tells the story that still resonates today. With hostile forces on every side, Mary I of Scotland attempts to secure a happy future for herself and her country. One of Scotland’s most esteemed composers, Thea Musgrave captures the drama in a thrilling, atmospheric score rooted in the rough-hewn Highlands of Elizabethan times. Overview Caught between her drunken husband, her scheming half-brother, and her untrustworthy lover, Mary I of Scotland must find a way to protect her country and her Catholic faith. Each new conversation reveals a treacherous twist as she is betrayed or misled by those closest to her. Until finally a terrible miscalculation causes her to fall into the arms of her Protestant cousin, Elizabeth I.