First performed in 1830, Hernani was hailed as a pivotal work that encapsulated the aspirations of the Romantic movement, much to the dismay of Classicists who viewed it as a direct challenge to their literary ideals. Set against the backdrop of 16th century Spain, this captivating tale of romance and intrigue unfolds with relentless intensity, as characters navigate through a series of cataclysmic events where the fate of their lives hangs on the sound of a hunting horn. Described in 1912 as a production that was permitted in hopes of undermining the Romantic school, the performance instead became a resounding triumph, thanks in part to a lively audience drawn from the artistic elite. Notably, Hernani also inspired Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Ernani, which premiered in 1844.
