Based on a play by Victor Hugo, Verdi's Ernani was an immediate success, and as his most popular and frequently performed opera it became a cornerstone of his burgeoning reputation in the mid-1800s. Contemporary critics remarked that 'coming out of the theatre, people were already singing [those] catchy tunes ... Few scores have made a stronger, more powerful impression.' Ernani is a dramatic and intensely memorable tale of rebellion and romance - the chilling presence of the man in black and the drama of a joyful wedding turned to intense tragedy remains one of Verdi's most compelling operatic creations. This acclaimed production was the first to be staged at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino since 1965.